In the new rock art site of Etshkili-Too (Эчкили-Тоо) in the Talas Province of Kyrgyzstan, 105 en... more In the new rock art site of Etshkili-Too (Эчкили-Тоо) in the Talas Province of Kyrgyzstan, 105 engravings were inventoried, mainly zoomorphs (caprids) dating to the Old Turkic period, as well as to the 19 th and early 20 th centuries. Furthermore, nine Arabic inscriptions were documented at three different locations. Seven of them were concentrated near three former settlements at the top of the valley, which were probably occupied during the winter seasons. All inscriptions were deeply pecked into the rock surface, clearly visible, and almost not patinated. They are located at elevations between 1440 and 1600 meters above sea level. They contain ten personal names, exclusively male, including one referring to a hoja and mullah. There is no evidence to suggest that these inscriptions functioned as epitaphs. The texts were generally written in the Middle Turkic literary language as indicated by the use of the word "oglu" ("son of"). Furthermore, six dates are mentioned the inscriptions. Three follow the Gregorian calendar (1911-1922), while one was recorded according to the Hijri (1299 AH viz. 1882 CE). For two additional dates it remains unclear whether they refer to the Hijri calendar (1307 and 1889 or 1313 and 1895?) or to the Gregorian calendar (1907 and 1913?). Furthermore, on one rock surface, two dates are associated with animals according to the traditional nomadic
Материалы по археологии и истории античного и средневекового Причерноморья №20, 2025
The rock art site of Durdana in Kyrgyzstan (Bakaiyr, Talas Region) was discovered in May 2024 and... more The rock art site of Durdana in Kyrgyzstan (Bakaiyr, Talas Region) was discovered in May 2024 and prospected in June and July 2024. A systematic prospection of the site permitted the documentation of 593 petroglyphs but also of two Sogdian inscriptions. 45% of the engravings are dated back to the Medieval period, some of them of very small dimensions and executed by thin lines in the so-called "graffiti" technic. Furthermore, ten tamgas corresponding to eight different types were discovered, seven medieval and three from the 18 th-19 th centuries. Among these tamgas, three types were documented for the first time in the Talas Region. After a brief presentation of the petroglyphs of every period, the paper will focus on the Sogdian inscriptions and on the tamgas. The two late Sogdian inscriptions belong to the group of the Turko-Sogdian vertical rock inscriptions and can be dated between the 9 th and the early 11 th century with the presence of the Uyghur letter l. The main value of the inscriptions of Durdana is the presence of the title sarθang within the social or military stratification of the Turko-Sogdian milieux.
The rock art site of Durdana in Kyrgyzstan (Bakaiyr, Talas Region) was discovered in May 2024 and... more The rock art site of Durdana in Kyrgyzstan (Bakaiyr, Talas Region) was discovered in May 2024 and prospected in June and July 2024. A systematic prospection of the site permitted the documentation of 593 petroglyphs but also of two Sogdian inscriptions. 45% of the engravings are dated back to the Medieval period, some of them of very small dimensions and executed by thin lines in the so-called "graffiti" technic. Furthermore, ten tamgas corresponding to eight different types were discovered, seven medieval and three from the 18 th-19 th centuries. Among these tamgas, three types were documented for the first time in the Talas Region. After a brief presentation of the petroglyphs of every period, the paper will focus on the Sogdian inscriptions and on the tamgas. The two late Sogdian inscriptions belong to the group of the Turko-Sogdian vertical rock inscriptions and can be dated between the 9 th and the early 11 th century with the presence of the Uyghur letter l. The main value of the inscriptions of Durdana is the presence of the title sarθang within the social or military stratification of the Turko-Sogdian milieux.
At a newly prospected site on the southwestern shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake in the Ala-Bel mountai... more At a newly prospected site on the southwestern shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake in the Ala-Bel mountainous region, three Tibetan inscriptions done as graffiti of small dimensions were discovered. Furthermore, these inscriptions were associated with petroglyphs from the same period. In this paper, we present the first results of the prospection of Ala-Bel, the three new Buddhist inscriptions and the petroglyphs associated with them. These inscriptions are the ritual prayer formula "om mani padme hum" in a Tibetan alphabet and can be dated to the Oirat-Jungarian period. Furthermore, we interpret these inscriptions in the regional context of Oirat-Jungarian inscriptions in Kyrgyzstan.
The rock art site of Kara-Say in Kyrgyzstan (Bakaiyr, province of Talas) was discovered and prosp... more The rock art site of Kara-Say in Kyrgyzstan (Bakaiyr, province of Talas) was discovered and prospected in July 2024. A systematic prospection of the site permitted the documentation of 279 petroglyphs as well as two Arabic inscriptions from the beginning of the 20 th century. The site was directly located by an old settlement, and five tamgas from the Old Turkic period were also found. An anthropomorph leading a chariot was also discovered and can be dated by analogies from the Old Turkic period. Only a few of the petroglyphs were executed in the Scytho-Siberian animal style. This article provides a brief overview of the petroglyphs from each period, with particular attention given to the chariot and tamgas from the Early Turkic period, as well as the two newly discovered Arabicscript inscriptions. The first is an epitaph dated to 1925, while the second is a devotional phrase addressing Rahim, one of the 99 names of Allah.
As a result of archaeological surveys conducted by the authors at three rock art sites -Akterek, ... more As a result of archaeological surveys conducted by the authors at three rock art sites -Akterek, Basbatur, and Karakyr in the Almaty region -new tamga images have been documented. A tamga is a clan or family emblem placed on ancestral property, including cattle. The tamgas are dated from the Early Turkic period to the early 20th century. Two tamgas from Akterek and Karakyr have already been published. The aim of this article is to introduce new material to researchers by presenting 20 tamgas or tamga-like signs found at the three sites. Individual images of the signs are published for further discussion. Two key questions arise regarding these tamga-like signs. First, similar signs have been discovered in Mongolia, raising doubts about the connection between Mongolia, Akterek, and Degeres. Second, the existing chronological attribution of three signs at Basbatur should be reconsidered, as they may possibly date to the late Saka period.
As a result of the archaeological investigations conducted by the authors, more than 6100 rock en... more As a result of the archaeological investigations conducted by the authors, more than 6100 rock engravings in the cultural landscape of Akkainar, located between two important sites of rock art, Tamgaly and Kulzhabasy, were documented. Over 800 of them were attributed to the ancient Turkic period. A small group among them consists of tamgas, representing clan signs placed on hereditary property, including cattle. These tamgas are dated wider from the Early Turkic period to the beginning of the 20 th century. While some tamgas from Akkainar have been previously published, a complete repertory for this area has not been available until now. This publication presents new material consisting of 20 tamgas or signs similar to tamgas from Akkainar. Some of the images presented here may not necessarily be tamgas and are published for further discussion. Regarding some images resembling tamgas, two questions arise. Firstly, some of them were previously found in South Kazakhstan, raising questions about the consistent connections between Akkainar and the oases of South Kazakhstan. Secondly, certain signs are associated with zoomorphic images, raising questions about the reuse of former petroglyphs to create new tamgas.
As a result of the archaeological investigations conducted by the authors, more than 6100 rock en... more As a result of the archaeological investigations conducted by the authors, more than 6100 rock engravings in the cultural landscape of Akkainar, located between two important sites of rock art, Tamgaly and Kulzhabasy, were documented. Over 800 of them were attributed to the ancient Turkic period. A small group among them consists of tamgas, representing clan signs placed on hereditary property, including cattle. These tamgas are dated wider from the Early Turkic period to the beginning of the 20 th century. While some tamgas from Akkainar have been previously published, a complete repertory for this area has not been available until now. This publication presents new material consisting of 20 tamgas or signs similar to tamgas from Akkainar. Some of the images presented here may not necessarily be tamgas and are published for further discussion. Regarding some images resembling tamgas, two questions arise. Firstly, some of them were previously found in South Kazakhstan, raising questions about the consistent connections between Akkainar and the oases of South Kazakhstan. Secondly, certain signs are associated with zoomorphic images, raising questions about the reuse of former petroglyphs to create new tamgas.
An Arabic inscription most probably from the 19th century and some Kazakh ethnographic petroglyph... more An Arabic inscription most probably from the 19th century and some Kazakh ethnographic petroglyphs were found in the valley 5 in Eshkiolmes (Almaty region, Kazakhstan). The Arabic inscription consists of 12 characters and does not represent the person who wrote it, but is a description of the landscape or, possibly, the name of a toponym. This inscription is associated with a petroglyph of a zoomorph, raising the question of the relation between the inscription and the depicted animal. Moreover, this inscription, as well as numerous other inscriptions in Arabic in Kazakhstan, as well as in Kyrgyzstan, show that even shepherds could write before the Soviet Union again launched a campaign to eliminate illiteracy. For this reason, the alphabetization of Central Asia before the Soviet period should be questioned. This article also analyzes two other panels with Kazakh ethnographic engravings of this location in order to see the influence of earlier petroglyphs in the Kazakh ethnographic...
An Arabic inscription most probably from the 19 th century and some Kazakh ethnographic petroglyp... more An Arabic inscription most probably from the 19 th century and some Kazakh ethnographic petroglyphs were found in the valley 5 in Eshkiolmes (Almaty region, Kazakhstan). The Arabic inscription consists of 12 characters and does not represent the person who wrote it, but is a description of the landscape or, possibly, the name of a toponym. This inscription is associated with a petroglyph of a zoomorph, raising the question of the relation between the inscription and the depicted animal. Moreover, this inscription, as well as numerous other inscriptions in Arabic in Kazakhstan, as well as in Kyrgyzstan, show that even shepherds could write before the Soviet Union again launched a campaign to eliminate illiteracy. For this reason, the alphabetization of Central Asia before the Soviet period should be questioned. This article also analyzes two other panels with Kazakh ethnographic engravings of this location in order to see the influence of earlier petroglyphs in the Kazakh ethnographic period.
Первая надпись древнетюркским руническом письмом в Таласской долине была найдена около 125 лет на... more Первая надпись древнетюркским руническом письмом в Таласской долине была найдена около 125 лет назад, в 1896 году. В последние десятилетия в долине реки Кенколь, притока реки Талас (Кыргызстан), были обнаружены другие надписи, такие, как наскальные тексты Чон Чачыкей-I-III и Кичи Чачой I. Рядом с ними также находились петроглифы и тамги древнетюркской эпохи. Здесь впервые публикуются две новые рунические надписи из Чон Чачыкей (Чон Чачыкей IV и V). Обе были обнаружены рядом друг с другом. Надпись Чон Чачыкей IV состоит из одной строки, включающей 22 графемы, тогда как короткая надпись Чон Чачыкей V состоит из шести графем. Обе надписи содержат имя čυlïq, которое, судя по всему, следует читать именно как čulïq. Наличие имени в обеих надписях позволяет утверждать, что они оставлены одним и тем же человеком.
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