On June 3, volunteers of the Russian Geographical Society joined an international archaeological expedition to the high-altitude Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. They will participate in the search for and survey of underwater historical sites in the northern part of the high-altitude reservoir.
The expedition, organized by the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, will work in the foothills of the Northern Tien Shan in the area of the Kungoy -Ala-Too and Terskey-Ala-Too ranges at an altitude of 1,609 m above sea level. Its main task is to survey a group of underwater monuments on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul. Medieval settlements and burials of various eras fall into the work area. Archaeologists will have to determine the boundaries of historical sites and put them on a map, determine the age of ancient monuments from found fragments of ceramics, architectural details, and other artifacts as well as take samples for further research.
Part of the team arrived at Issyk-Kul by car, having traveled about 4,000 km to deliver the necessary equipment to the work site. RGS volunteers Elizaveta Bodrova and Ilyas Iskakov flew to the place of work by plane.
After the acclimatization necessary to work at an altitude of 1,600 m above sea level, the expedition members began testing the boat, motor, and diving equipment. The experience of Elizaveta Bodrova, who is an experienced diver-instructor, was certainly useful in this.
As part of the training, expedition participants practiced the technique of marking objects under water using buoys and GPS. During the work, several fragments of ceramics and bricks made of baked clay were lifted from the bottom, which are of great importance for dating ancient monuments.
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According to the archaeologists, bricks are quite an interesting and informative object for research. The tradition of making them varies depending on the time and territory. The proportions and structure of fired bricks are especially interesting for Central Asia, where in the Middle Ages mass construction was traditionally done using raw bricks and other materials. Fired bricks were most often used to build important structures or buildings that required strong and durable walls.
“Comparing the fired bricks raised by us with bricks from other regions will allow us to learn more about the origin of the architects who built near Issyk-Kul. And over time, with the development of the database, archaeologists will be able to obtain an excellent chronological indicator for the microregion. So far, we can confidently say that the raised bricks were made in the architectural traditions of the first half of the 2nd millennium AD," the expedition participants note.
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The archaeologists also conducted a reconnaissance of the coast, assessed the features of the coast in the area of work, and examined the material on the shore. Fragments of medieval vessels and human bones were found.
We would like to remind you that volunteers can take part in projects of the Russian Geographical Society this summer. Information can also be obtained on the website of the RGS Youth Club.