Sunken Silk Road city reveals Central Asia's lost history
Summary
A submerged city in Kyrgyzstan's Lake Issyk-Kul is being explored by Russian and Kyrgyz researchers, who say the ruins could shed new light on Central Asia's history along the Silk Road. The site may have been flooded around 800 years ago after a landslide or earthquake-related disaster.
Key Points
- Divers and scientists are investigating the ruins of a long-lost city beneath Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan.
- The settlement sat on a key Silk Road route and may have been flooded about 800 years ago by a landslide or seismic event.
- Researchers have found cemeteries, a public building, bones and pottery that may help date the site and reconstruct daily life.
- The expedition is funded by the Russian Academy of Sciences and is the first major exploration of the site since its rediscovery in the 19th century.
