An unsolvable mystery? A Tang Dynasty "Uyghur" ruin on a remote Siberian island

▲Por-Bajin (Photo /por-bajin Cultural Construction Foundation)

By Rita

At first glance from above, many might find something off—how could there be a "rectangular island"?

The UK's Daily Mail reported on this island on April 9, which is situated on a lake in Siberia and is thought to have been built around 1,300 years ago. Judging from the preserved and collapsed structures, many believe it might have been a fortress or a prison.

Regarding the human relics on the island, historians and scientists have differing opinions. Experts suggest that rather than being for imprisonment, this isolated place was likely built to attract certain individuals, proposing it could have been a "summer retreat," "temple," or "astronomical observatory."

▲Por-Bajin reflects Chinese architectural traditions (Photo / Screenshot from YouTube)

This place is calledPor-Bajin, which in the Tuvan language spoken by its former inhabitants, means "clay house." It is located between the Sayan and Altai mountains, very close to Mongolia, about 3,800 kilometers from the capital Moscow. It was discovered in 1891, yet for a full century, no one could explain its mysterious past.

▲Por-Bajin exploration team (Photo / Screenshot from YouTube)

In 2007, archaeologists discovered footprints on clay tablets, faded paintings on mud, massive gates, and charred wooden materials.Experts claim the island was likely built during China’s Tang Dynasty by the Uyghur Khaganate (744–840 AD) from the north. But why was it built here, so far from cities and trade routes? Why construct a fortress in such an isolated location? Scientists are still working to solve the mystery.

▲Ruins on the island (Photo / Screenshot from YouTube)

From its construction methods and materials, it's clear that it follows traditional Chinese architecture. Despite being 1,300 years old, scientists have used laser mapping to create a 3D image of the 3.5-hectare site, revealing that many walls are still largely intact. The internal structure is divided into two parts, including a covered walkway supported by 36 wooden pillars. Scientists also noted that while the builders had to endure the harsh cold of Siberia, there is absolutely no heating system on the island.

"Why it was abandoned" is more intriguing than "why it was built."

Russian President Putin and the Moroccan prince, who visited in 2007, felt the same way: "I've been to many places and seen many things, but I've never seen anything like this."

▲Putin and the Moroccan prince (Photo / Wikipedia)