Saimaluu-Tash West Lake Shelf Petroglyphs
Саймалуу-Таш — Көл жээги · Saimaly-Tash Western Lake Tier · Arakol Shelf West
Saka to Qarakhanid·Saka, Wusun, Qarakhanid·🇰🇬 Jalal-Abad Region, Toguz-Toro District, Fergana Range, Kyrgyzstan
About
About Saimaluu-Tash West Lake Shelf Petroglyphs
Lake-margin boulder bar at the tarn below Saimaluu-Tash West cirque, a 400-m shoreline shelf with 180 panels on glacially-rafted quartzite. Notable Panel WL-11 holds the only Saimaluu-Tash depiction of a two-humped Bactrian camel caravan (Saka trade), while WL-22 preserves medieval Qarakhanid hunting inscription in Arabic over ibex. Studied by Tashbaeva 2010.
Why it mattersOnly Saimaluu-Tash camel-caravan panel, evidence for Saka trans-Fergana trade ritual.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of camel caravan at 3340 m
- 02Qarakhanid hunting inscription purpose
Theories
- 01Caravan blessing shrine
- 02Ancestor lake offering
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.600 BCE–1100 CE
- Period
- Saka to Qarakhanid
- Culture
- Saka, Wusun, Qarakhanid
- Builders
- Fergana transhumant and caravan groups
- Purpose
- Lakeside memorial and caravan blessing at tarn threshold
- Abandoned
- c.1100 CE Qarakhanid retreat
- Rediscovered
- 1990 Tashbaeva lake survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600 BCE
Saka camel caravan
c.900 CE
Qarakhanid inscription
1990
Tashbaeva lake recording
2001
UNESCO tentative
On the ground
Structures & features
41.1720° N · 73.8020° E · 3340 m · 2 mapped features
Camel Caravan Boulder (WL-11)
petroglyph panelShoreline block with 4 two-humped camels led by driver, Saka style
41.1725° N · 73.8025° EQarakhanid Inscription Slab (WL-22)
inscription panelHorizontal slab with Arabic naskh hunting note over pecked ibex
41.1715° N · 73.8015° E
Gallery