Content area
Full text
Introduction
Central Asia offers a large number of rock art sites with similarities in chronology, techniques and iconography, both in Uzbekistan (Sarmishsai), in Kyrgyzstan (Saimaluu-Tash, Cholpon-Ata) and in Kazakhstan.
In Kazakhstan, the main sites are located in the south, especially between the Karatau Mountain range (Arpauzen) and the Chinese border (Eshkiolmes, Bayan Zhurek, Usek) (Fig.1). In the centre of this area, which is as wide as Italy, there are two important sites: Kulzhabasy, with approximately 4000 engravings and, 50 km to the east, Tamgaly with around 5000 petroglyphs.
The site of Tamgaly, located 125 km northwest of Almaty, was discovered in 1957 by Anna Maksimova (1923-2002). In the following years, she researched the rock engravings with Alexei Maryashev and Antonina Ermolayeva, while archaeological excavations were later led by Alexei Rogozhinsky.
In 2004, Tamgaly was listed as a World Heritage site by virtue of "the dense and coherent group of petroglyphs, with sacred images, altars and cult areas, together with their associated settlements and burial sites (which) provide a substantial testimony to the lives and beliefs of pastoral peoples of the Central Asian steppes from the Bronze Age to the present day" (Unesco).
Environment of the Rock Art
Tamgaly is located at a height between 870 and 950 meters in the Chu-Ili Mountains bordering steppes (Fig.2). This middle-high mountain range offers fertile soil, natural springs and protection against the sun in summer and against the wind in winter. For these reasons, it was often used as a summer and winter camp, and local populations still raise livestock there.
The main canyon of Tamgaly is oriented north-south with a width between 20 and 100 meters and is 1200 meters long (Fig.3). In spring and fall, a small stream flows in the middle of it.
Around 3000 rock engravings are concentrated in five groups in a 500 by 400 meter area in this main canyon, while 2000 more petroglyphs are located in the periphery over an area of 6x3 km.
The engravings have been made on horizontal and vertical outcrops on the slopes of the hills. The rocks consist of argillaceous sandstone (Francfort et alii 1995: 169).
Main groups of petroglyphs
The five main groups of petroglyphs are concentrated in the northern part of the central canyon. Four...