In the Krasnoyarsk region, scientists have discovered over a dozen stones with petroglyphs dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 2nd century CE. Using 3D models, researchers from Kemerovo State University (KSU) established the varying timelines of the drawings, which belong to different ancient cultures.
During the study of the Tepsei burial ground, KSU specialists found new images depicting the characteristics of warriors and evidence of burial rituals. Stratigraphic and stylistic analyses, along with studies of the drawing techniques, helped determine their age. In total, the scientists analyzed over 80 surfaces with images.
The drawings on the stones of the Tagar kurgans were made at different times. Later populations, including the Tesins, Tashtyks, Turks, and Khakas, also left their marks. Olga Sovetova, Director of the Institute of History and International Relations at KSU, noted that the images span various epochs.
The Tesin petroglyphs depict scenes of hunting and battles: warriors with weapons, horsemen, animals pierced by arrows, and anthropomorphic figures. Later Tashtyk scenes are rendered in fine lines and include predators chasing prey, as well as bulls, birds, moose, and symbols dating to the medieval and modern periods.
The research findings were presented at the International Scientific Conference “Current Archaeology” at the Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In May 2024, an archaeological expedition is planned to further study the images. The collected materials will refine the chronology of the petroglyphs and will be included in a monograph scheduled for publication in 2025.
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