Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai

Dating back as far as 11,000 BCE, the petroglyphic imagery found at these sites provides an exceptional documentation of the pre-historic and early historic communities in the north-western Altai Mountains, at the intersection of Central and North Asia.

The earliest images were created at a time when the land was, in parts, heavily forested and an ideal habitat for large wild game. They reflect a dependence on the hunting of these animals, and depict mammoths, rhinoceros, elk and ostriches.

Later images reflect the period during which the Altai landscape assumed its present mountain steppe character and the herding of large and small animals emerged as a dominant economic way of life.

The most recent images show the transition to horse-dependent nomadism- the quintessential economic character of the Eurasian steppe zone- when significant horse populations grazed the high valleys in both summer and winter.

Deer have been depicted in petroglyphs since the Neolithic period and are typically portrayed in a realistic, embellished, or stylized manner.

Rock paintings frequently depict cows, oxen carrying loads, and people herding them, backing up researchers’ beliefs that cattle played a crucial role in agriculture and in the daily lives of people during the Bronze Age.

The Mongolian Altai leopards are carefully carved with long, twisted tails, and are often mid-leap. The twisted tail is found in other petroglyphs across Mongolia and is believed by researchers to symbolise energy.

The depiction of wild boars originated during the transition from the Eneolithic to the Bronze Age, marking an important period in the artistic representation of these animals. They were usually carved as an outline with embellishments such as scribbles, lines and dots.

Some rock art provides evidence of the domestication of horses, depicting scenes of horses being trained with riders. These artworks shed light on the early relationship between humans and horses and offer an insight into the development of horsemanship in the region.

Many images feature carts with varying purposes and designs, such as carriages, horse carts, and carts with trailers. The scenes feature other figures too, including charioteers and men with bows and arrows. 

Aside from the wear of time, the petroglyphs are essentially pristine. Protected by their relative inaccessibility due to both terrain and weather, they are largely unaffected by human or animal activity, an enduring testimony to pre- and early historic life in this region.