In early July, Novosibirsk archaeologists found new petroglyphs on the border of the Mongolian and Russian Altai. We decided to make a selection of places where every tourist could find unusual ancient images on their own.
First, let's figure out what petroglyphs are.
Several archeological expeditions have already found drawings of ancient people in Altai. Most often here you can find images of animals - moose, roe deer, wild boars, deer. This is due to the fact that peoples have always lived in Altai, the main craft of which was hunting.
So where to go to see the petroglyphs with your own eyes?
Complex "Kalbak-Tash"
The Kalbak-Tash complex is recognized as the largest petroglyph gallery in the Altai Republic. It includes about eight thousand drawings from different eras - from the Neolithic to the ancient Turkic era.
Promotional video:
To get to "Kalbak-Tash", you need to drive 7 km west of the village of Iodro, Ongudai region.
Experts note that the drawings here are made with both stone and metal tools.
The territory of the complex is fenced, but tourists can see the sights on their own or with a guide.
Turochak writings
Here the images are painted with red paint (ocher) on a rock, which is a significant monument of rock art in Altai. It is noted that due to its size, the monument is unique not only for the region, but for the whole of Siberia.
The peculiarity of the scribble is that the main artistic character is the image of an elk, which reflects the views of hunters of taiga tribes on nature.
The Turochakskaya Pisanitsa is located on the left bank of the Biya River, on rocky stones, 5 km up from the village of Turochak. You won't be able to look at the landmark from the car window, since you need to get to the rocks by the river. In winter, it is possible on the ice, and in summer, locals willingly take tourists to the petroglyphs on their boats.
Sanctuary of Seterlu
The Seterlu sanctuary is located in the Karakol river basin in the Ongudai region near the Seterlu river. The wall with pictures is located in the narrowest part of the Karakol valley, next to which there is a road between the villages of Boochi and Bichiktu-Boom.
Due to the fact that the rock on which the petroglyphs are carved is sheer and has a ledge, experts are sure that this place served as a natural sanctuary.
Embossed petroglyphs cover almost the entire surface of the stone. Most of the drawings are deer, goats and rams. In addition, there are images of magical creatures, as well as dogs and horses.
Drawings of Kara-Oyuk
One of the most visited attractions in the vicinity of the village of Kosh-Agach. Rock carvings are located 15 km north of the Yelangash River.
About 1200 images were found here, reminiscent of Mongolian and Tuvan graphics.
Ukok plateau
The Ukok plateau, according to archaeologists, contains the most ancient petroglyphs of Siberia. They were made 10 thousand years ago.
The drawings can be found on the territory of the Bertek writings. Most of the images are figures of animals and anthropomorphic creatures made by point technique. Basically, all the drawings are on the Kyzyl-Tas rock.
The most unusual image on the Ukok plateau is recognized as a drawing resembling a UFO or a spaceship.
Yelangash Valley
The Elangash Valley is a large accumulation of rock paintings located in the Kosh-Agach region. Petroglyphs are located here on both banks of the Elangash River. The gallery stretches for 18 kilometers in a strip up to 1.5 kilometers wide.
All drawings are carved on separate boulders, worked out in the rocks of the glacier, which was here earlier.
Most often in the valley you can find hunting scenes, as well as individual images of animals: elk, yak, camels, snow leopards and other wild and domestic animals. Fragments dedicated to horsemen, archers and warriors were also noticed.
More than 80 drawings were found in total.