The Legend of the Issyk-Kul "Atlantis"
WORD ABOUT THE TREASURES OF THE KYRGYZ "ATLANTIS"
From the 3rd to the 6th centuries, Nestorian Christians appeared in Central Asia. In the 12th century, Syrian Christian refugees established a monastery on the shores of Issyk-Kul. Its exact location is unknown. It is assumed that searches should be conducted underwater in the northwest of the lake.
In 1218, the troops of Genghis Khan, led by the commander Jebe, conquered Semirechye, including Issyk-Kul.
In 1223-1224, Genghis Khan spent two years in the Talas and Chuy valleys, and it is possible that he was also at Issyk-Kul.
1227 — the death of Genghis Khan and burial in a grave that has not yet been found.
In the 19th century, an Armenian Christian monastery operated on the shores of the lake in the city of Issyk-Kul, marked on the Catalan map (where the relics of St. Matthew the Evangelist are buried).
15th-16th centuries — the rise in the lake's level and flooding of coastal settlements.
In the early 20th century, a map with a treasure plan of Genghis Khan at Issyk-Kul was brought to Kyrgyzstan from China. Based on it, excavations of the Kurmentin cave began in 1926 by emigrants returning from China in search of treasure.
Treasure hunters discovered a stone slab with unknown inscriptions (which corresponded to the plan) and two ancient "hammers" at a depth of 6 meters: one was copper, the other was gold. They were handed over to the "Zolotosnab" office in Przhevalsk in 1930, which was documented. Further work was prohibited for the treasure hunters.
In 1952, in strict secrecy, the search for treasure at Issyk-Kul was taken up by a serious organization such as the Ministry of State Security of the Kyrgyz SSR.
In 1968-1975, Kyrgyz General E. Aliyev — a witness and participant in the first searches — officially appealed to the Council of Ministers, the State Security Committee, and the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR with a proposal to continue the search for the treasure.
On August 27, 1975, the all-Union party newspaper "Pravda" reported in an article titled "Return to the Mystery" that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR was engaged in the search for Genghis Khan's treasure at Issyk-Kul.
In 1976-77, the Kyrgyz Geological Administration, checking legends about treasures, secretly conducted terrain probing in the Kurment area and concluded that the presence of non-ferrous metals at depth could not be ruled out.
It was recommended that further targeted study of the site be conducted using archaeological methods.
In 1996-97, work by archaeologists and geologists began in the Kyrgyz Republic without publicity but was suspended due to a lack of funds.
In 1999, permission was obtained to conduct large-scale archaeological work at Issyk-Kul with the involvement of foreign investors. A special commission was created.
According to the new Civil Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, "a person who discovers a treasure has the right to receive a reward of fifty percent of the value of the treasure" (Article 261).
Of course, treasure is a child of chance. And what if chance is favorable to you?!
The immeasurable treasures of Genghis Khan are still waiting for their discoverer.
ISSYK-KUL INVITES YOU TO SEARCH!
