Photo by the Scientific and Educational Center of Altaic Studies and Turkology "Big Altai"
The find was made in the Borombay area, near the village of Kyzyl-Oktyabr in the Kemin district during a joint archaeological expedition. The stone sculpture depicts a female face with a three-horned headdress, which was characteristic of the early Turks era (VI-VIII centuries). The right hand of the figure holds a cup, indicating cult attributes of antiquity.
According to Professor Alexey Tishkin, the head of the expedition, this object is carved on a large boulder that differs in composition from local rocks, suggesting its special delivery for the creation of this image.
The scientists also performed photogrammetry of the find and created a digital copy, which will be available for publication in the future.
Work was conducted in the Borombay I and Borombay II archaeological complexes, where burial mounds from various epochs had already been found. In one of the excavations of burial mound No. 39, a catacomb grave with multi-layered stone masonry was discovered. Despite damage from looters, archaeologists were able to extract fragments of bones and ceramics, and radiocarbon analysis will help determine the age of the find.
According to the professor, the burial structure is unusual for Altai and may date back to pre-Turkic times, possibly to the Kenkol culture.
During the study of burial mound No. 8, archaeologists also found ceramic fragments and a stone pestle, which may indicate the presence of a cenotaph—a symbolic grave without remains.
The expedition involved researchers from Altai State University: Alexey Tishkin, Vadim Gorbunov, and Sergey Bondarenko. Significant support was provided by representatives of the Kyrgyz National University, including the head of the archaeology department, Temirlan Charginov, and department staff member Orozbek Soltobaev, who obtained permission for the work.
A total of 41 archaeological objects have been recorded at the Borombay I monument. Unfortunately, some burial mounds were destroyed during the construction of highways and land cultivation, as reported by Alexey Tishkin.
After the completion of fieldwork, the excavations were reclaimed to preserve the natural landscape.
Scientists plan to continue archaeological research in Kyrgyzstan, for which an extension of the expedition's time frame, additional funding, and active use of digital technologies are necessary.
“This find represents a significant stage in the study of the culture of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia and the ancient Turks. The female image with a three-horned headdress is a rare testimony to the symbolism and rituals of that era,” noted the professor.
