According to specialists, these monuments date back to the 2nd-1st centuries BC and the 6th century. Information about this site remains limited for now. For further study, it is necessary first to passport the object, determine its cultural affiliation, and only after that conduct archaeological excavations. “We do not consider this discovery to be unique. Archaeologist Yuri Zadneprovsky conducted excavations here. It is necessary to study his works, as he might have visited this site as well,” noted Associate Professor of Osh State University, Candidate of Historical Sciences Sabyrkul Arstanov, emphasizing that Zadneprovsky carried out over 300 excavations in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Arstanov added that this was their first visit, during which they only collected samples. Despite the scientific community being unaware of this site, local residents were informed about its existence. “We spent a limited amount of time there. Information about the petroglyphs will become available after the completion of research and analysis. We only collected what we found nearby. Photographs of the stone with petroglyphs were taken, and shards of pottery and a stone mill were also collected,” he said.
Sabyrkul Arstanov also noted that Yuri Zadneprovsky likely researched this site in the 1950s-1960s. Therefore, it is important to avoid claims that these are “historical monuments discovered for the first time.” “Zadneprovsky may have conducted expeditions here in the 50s and 60s. We have not yet analyzed his data. However, local residents have long known about the presence of historical monuments here, while the scientific community remained unaware,” he added.
In the future, this site will be passported as part of the program “Historical Monuments of Osh Province 2023–2027,” after which it will be included in the cultural heritage list of the Ministry of Culture and receive protective status. If a special plan is developed and necessary funds are allocated, scientists will be able to conduct archaeological excavations and research. “There is a special database created during the Soviet era, based on which we, historian-archaeologists, inspect and passport sites rich in historical monuments. Among them will be both researched and unresearched objects, and all will be passported indicating their condition,” concluded the historian.
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