An article by Szymon Zdziebłowski on scienceinpoland.pap.pl - Uzbekistan/ Polish archaeologists discovered a rich cluster of rock carvings - reports on a team of archaeologists from Warsaw that has discovered a rich, previously unknown cluster of rock carvings in Uzbekistan. They believe there could be thousands of depictions of animals, mainly ibexes, and that the oldest carvings may be several thousand years old.

The mountain valley of Kyzyl Dara in Uzbekistan. An ibex petroglyph. Images: M. Leloch

Researchers from the University of Warsaw have been conducting research in the Chatkal Mountains in the northwest of Uzbekistan for several years, mainly focused on excavations. Traces of several camps dating from 40,000 years ago have been studied.

Clusters of petroglyphs. Images: M. Leloch

Depictions of ibexes predominate among the carvings, based on the huge, curved horns of animals. Michał Leloch, a member of the research team, believes they depict Siberian ibexes which are the largest ibex species. Among the less numerous carvings are depictions interpreted as arches and other animal species such as deer, dogs and wolves. There are also motifs showing human hands, but slightly smaller than life size.

Further research on the extent and age of the petroglyphs is being planned.