http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20071227/94372640.html
Remains of ancient civilization discovered on the bottom of a lake
MOSCOW. (Nikolai Lukashov for RIA Novosti) - An international archeological
expedition to Lake Issyk Kul, high in the Kyrgyz mountains, proves the
existence of an advanced civilization 25 centuries ago, equal in development to
the Hellenic civilizations of the northern coast of the Pontus Euxinus (Black
Sea) and the Mediterranean coast of Egypt.
The expedition resulted in sensational finds, including the discovery of major
settlements, presently buried underwater. The data and artefacts obtained,
which are currently under study, apply the finishing touches to the many years
of exploration in the lake, made by seven previous expeditions. The addition of
a previously unknown culture to the treasury of history extends the idea of the
patterns and regularities of human development.
Kyrgyz historians, led by Vladimir Ploskikh, vice president of the Kyrgyz
Academy of Sciences, worked side-by-side with Russian colleagues, lead by
historian Svetlana Lukashova and myself. All the Russians involved were
experienced skin-divers and members of the Russian Confederation of Underwater
Sports. We were responsible for the work done under water. Scuba divers
ventured into the lake many times to study its bottom.
Last year, we worked near the north coast at depths of 5-10 metres to discover
formidable walls, some stretching for 500 meters-traces of a large city with an
area of several square kilometers. In other words, it was a metropolis in its
time. We also found Scythian burial mounds, eroded by waves over the centuries,
and numerous well preserved artifacts-bronze battleaxes, arrowheads,
self-sharpening daggers, objects discarded by smiths, casting molds, and a
faceted gold bar, which was a monetary unit of the time.
Lake Issyk Kul has played a tremendous role since the inception of human
history due to its geographic location at the crossing of Indo-Aryan and other
nomadic routes. Archeologists found traces of many religions
here-Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Somewhere in
the vicinity was Chihu, the metropolitan city of a mighty state of Wusung
nomads, which ancient Chinese chronicles mentioned on many occasions.
The Great Silk Road lay along the lake's coast until the 18th century. Even
today, the descendants of caravan drivers recollect their ancestors' stories
about travelling from Asia to Europe and back.
Tamerlane built a fortress on one of the lake islets to hold aristocratic
captives and keep his treasures. The famous Asian expeditions of Russian
explorers Dmitry Przhevalsky and Pyotr Semyonov-Tianshansky started from that
spot.
The latter left us an enticing mystery. When he visited Venice in 1850, he
looked at the Catalan Atlas of 1375 and came across a picture of a lakeside
monastery with the caption: "The spot is named Isikol. Here is a monastery of
Armenian brethren, which is rumored to possess the relics of St. Matthew the
Apostle and Evangelist."
Semyonov-Tianshansky embarked on a relentless but vain search for the shrine.
To all appearances, the monastery was engulfed by water. Hydrologists have not
to this day sufficiently studied the unique lake with regular shifts in its
water level. Some changes are gradual, others sudden and disastrous since they
are caused by earthquakes and torrents of water rush from lakes higher up in
the mountains. Floods recede sooner or later, and people come back to the
shores-only to become the victims of other floods 500-700 years later.
Throughout the years of their partnership, Russian and Kyrgyz archeologists
discovered and examined more than ten major flooded urban and rural settlements
of varying ages. Their ample finds generously add to present-day ideas of
everyday life in times long ago.
Some artifacts are stunning. A 2,500 year-old ritual bronze cauldron was found
on the bottom of the lake. The subtlety of its craftsmanship is amazing. Such
excellent quality of joining details together can be presently obtained by
metalwork in an inert gas. How did ancient people achieve their high-tech
perfection? Also of superb workmanship are bronze mirrors, festive horse
harnesses and many other objects. Articles identified as the world's oldest
extant coins were also found underwater-gold wire rings used as small change
and a large hexahedral goldpiece.
Side by side with the settlements are remnants of ritual complexes of times
immemorial, dwellings and household outbuildings. Later expeditions will study
them.
The information collected there allows us to conjecture that local people had a
socio-economic system hitherto unknown to historians. As a blending of nomadic
and settled life, it either gradually evolved into something different or-more
likely-was destroyed by one of the many local floods. Legends confirm the
latter assumption.
Nikolai Lukashov, a member of the Russian Confederation of Underwater Sports,
took part in the the Issyk Kul expedition.
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