Submerged ancient lake settlement found in Kyrgyzstan

Archaeologists have discovered a 2,500 year old Saka settlement in up to 23 metres of water in Kyrgyzstan.

Divers have uncovered a 2,500-year-old settlement underneath 
Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

The new find at the lake is separate from the discovery in 2007 of the ruins of an ancient metropolis of roughly the same age and Scythian burial mounds under its waters.

Divers from Tomsk State University say they have located another 'previously unknown' outpost of the ancient world, along with 200 artifacts from this long-lost culture.

The expedition team conducted excavation using hydraulic pump, metal detectors
 and other appliances [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

A piece of a large ceramic pot found in the lake has a stamp on it written in Armenian and Syrian scripts, which, if confirmed, gives credence to the theory that an Armenian monastery was on this site in Medieval times, it is claimed.

An intriguing version is that this remote lake was the last resting place of evangelist St Matthew, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, and the find may support a theory that an Armenian monastery once existed here at which his relics were supposedly buried.

The divers retrieve a complete ceramic jar, supposedly belonging 
to Saka-Usun culture [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

Dmitry Gorn, director of Tomsk scuba diving 'Club SKAT TSU', who led the diving team, said the inscribed pot fragment was 'truly unique'. 'Experts are now working on the identification of the writings on the stamps, but it's supposed to be Armenian-Syrian script,' he said.

'If that proves to be correct, it will be further evidence that there was an Armenian monastery on Issyk-Kul in 14th century where, according to the legends, relics of Matthew were stored.'

The recovered ceramic jar [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

The divers worked in Tup Bay, in the northeast of the lake, which is the tenth largest in the world and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. The expedition was led by Dr Vladimir Ploskikh, of the department of history and culture at the Kyrgyz-Russian University.

'The underwater archaeological expedition allowed us to find a previously unknown Saka settlement with evident signs of bronze casting production on the bottom of Lake Issyk-Kul,' said Gorn. 'The expedition team conducted excavation using hydraulic pump, metal detectors and other appliances.'

A piece of a large ceramic pot found in the lake has a stamp on it which 
could be Armenian or Syrian in origin [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

Dozens of artifacts were raised from the lake, which was located on the ancient Old Silk Road, he said. 'We lifted over 200 items among them mainly pieces of ceramics, whetstones for sharpening knives, a piece of bronze ritual sickle, and many pieces of slag and traces of casting production,' he said.

'We managed to find a complete ceramic jar, supposedly belonging to Saka-Usun culture  which was most likely used for rituals because it was found near a burial site.' This was found by Artyom Yeremin, a student of Tomsk State University.

Dozens of artifacts were raised from the lake, which was located 
along the ancient Old Silk Road [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

Many Christian believers say that Matthew the Apostle's remains are in Salerno Cathedral, in Italy, which is dedicated to the saint. The Orthdox church has a different view, as set out by Vladimir, Metropolitan of Tashkent and Central-Asia.

He claimed that St Matthew's body - after a cruel death - was hidden by his followers, and buried on the beach of Issyk-Kul. 'St Matthew died in Syria. His followers, escaping from Rome's persecutions, brought the relics of the Apostle to this land,' he was quoted as saying. 'The sanctity was kept in an abbey, located on a beach of Issyk-Kul and all the Christian world knew about this fact.'

The divers found over 200 items including ceramics, whetstones for sharpening
 knives and a piece of bronze ritual sickle [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

A 14th century map by cartographer Abraham Cresques is cited as supporting this view. In Tup Bay there are accounts of a vision of a flaming cross close to the presumed burial place of St Matthew.

The depth of the lake - which has no visible outlet of water - has varied considerably over the centuries. It was previously not as deep as it is today which means that these ancient settlements would once have been close to the lake's shore. In medieval times, the lake was some 8 metres (26 ft)  lower.

The finds, thought to be from a 2,500-year-old settlement, were discovered between
 three and seventy feet under the surface [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

In 2007, Dr Ploskikh, vice president of the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences, reported that archaeologists had discovered the remains of a 2500-year-old advanced civilization on the lake's floor.

Among the finds of this earlier discovery were bronze battleaxes, arrowheads, self-sharpening daggers, objects discarded by smiths, casting molds, and a faceted gold bar that was a monetary unit of the time. Ancient coins were also brought to the surface of the lake.

The discoveries were made by the divers from Tomsk State University
 in Siberia [Credit: Dmitry Gorn]

The Saka people were drinkers of Soma, an intoxicating liquor, and were mentioned by Herodotus. They lived in Central Asia.

Author: Olga Gertcyk | Source: The Siberian Times [September 02, 2015]