Independent researcher and candidate of historical sciences Alexander Kamyшев, during an expert discussion of the Bishkek General Plan until 2050, asked the developers to clarify the fate of the unique archaeological historical monument—the ‘Blacksmith Fortress’ located in the city center. Representatives of the mayor’s office and developers assured that the object will be preserved.
‘Earlier, in your presentation on the environmental block and tourism development, you mentioned that the city needs places that could retain tourists. Today, tourists spend very little time in the capital, and they need special objects to visit—interesting and comfortable ones. I fully believe that the ‘Blacksmith Fortress’ can become a real Mecca of tourism for Kyrgyzstan and Bishkek. Attention must be drawn to this object, and funds allocated for its restoration,’ noted Alexander Kamyшев.
He recalled that recently in the center of Bishkek, the second season of archaeological excavations of the ‘Blacksmith Fortress’—a monument funded by the government of Kyrgyzstan—was completed. The found artifacts allowed for sensational conclusions about the ancient history of the capital. ‘Coins and items made in the first half of the 7th to early 9th century indicate that the settlement, which historians identify with the city of Jul mentioned in early medieval manuscripts, is over 1400 years old. The exact founding date has not yet been established. Ahead is the cleaning of the cultural layer to the natural ground, where new discoveries may await,’ added the scientist.
Earlier, VB.KG told about the sad fate of the medieval settlement, on the site of which the Kokand people exactly 200 years ago erected the Pishpek fortress. In 1862, Chu Kyrgyz who rebelled against the oppression of Kokand feudal lords besieged the fortress and sent a messenger for help to Verny (now Almaty).
Today, the archaeological monument in the center of Bishkek suffers from years of landfills. In the 1980s, thousands of cubic meters of construction and household waste were dumped on the site of former dugouts, so it is extremely necessary to clear the territory.
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