Prehistoric Rock Show
3,500 years, age of the petroglyphs at Tamgaly in southern Kazakhstan
Hanging out beyond the city limits is one of our favourite ways to enjoy a weekend in Central Asia. From water sports and skiing adventures to mountainous hikes and delectable picnics, there’s sufficient excuse to get outdoors and explore. Amid these rural pastimes is an opportunity to walk in to the world of art in a natural setting. A wondrous collection of rock carvings and drawings on stone, known as petroglyphs, survive in an array of locations dotted around the borders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
In the Almaty region of Kazakhstan lies two such fascinating open-air art exhibitions, the similarly named Tamgaly and Tamgaly-Tas, permanently standing proud in remote valleys and canyons, north of the largest city in Kazakhstan. Thousands and thousands of these ancient engravings of rock art remain at both sites, collectively an important intersection for trade routes back in the Silk Road days. On arrival, you can’t help but consider the origins of these pieces, some of which have survived 3,500 years, an eternal material shaped by weather and age, with a human artistic touch added later in time.
Tamgaly is the major petroglyph site in the region, and was honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 2004, the rock carvings are scattered around a valley which lies within the grand Kazakh Steppe. Captivatingly, the imagery drawn on these rocks are varied, ranging from indigenous animals to ancient customs & lifestyles, and plenty of indecipherable pieces lost to time and climate. It’s fascinating to be up close to the arts, culture and way of life of the early nomads in Kazakhstan. Amongst the petroglyphs, there’s also evidence of human settlement with tombs and burial grounds.
The petroglyphs at Tamgaly-Tas are an altogether more surprising find among the great outdoors of Central Asia, with its history being of Buddhism. Within this ensemble of canyons are an incredible collection of carvings and drawings of deity imagery, and this archaeological wonder has become a pilgrimage to view the images of Buddha. The white details of each deity drawing stands out magnificently from its canvas on the natural red rock.
To continue your journey along the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, carry on to our fascinating article uncovering the delights of the Grand Canyon of Central Asia.
