Archaeological studies in the Altai Republic

Within the framework of the State Program of the Republic of Tatarstan “Preservation of the national identity of the Tatar people (2020-2025)” The Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences conducts archaeological surveys in the Altai Republic.

Reconnaissances to clarify the condition of rock art monuments, runic inscriptions and inscriptions in Uigur script, engraved images are being carried out at several sites located in the Ongudai and Ulagan districts of the Altai Republic (head of field works is A.U. Urbushev).

In Ongudai district local excavation works were carried out at the rock art site Seterlyu-1 in order to clarify information about the archaeological heritage site. This monument was discovered in 2022. In addition to the study of the condition and preservation of the site, the works to search for possible traces of rituals was also conducted. According to some specialists, on similar monuments often found evidence, that some rituals were held near the places with petroglyphs. However, such an assumption was not confirmed with regard to the Seterlyu-1 site.

Previously unknown inscriptions in Uigur script were discovered at the Early Middle Ages monument Urkosh (Örkösh in Altai). A group of petroglyphs documented by Ye.A.Miklashevich in 1989 was identified at the site of Tuekta, which also belongs to the Early Middle Ages. The name of the monument “Tuyuk-Tuu” in translation from Altai language means a closed, locked high mountain.

In Ulagan district prospectings are carried out jointly with a specialist of the Altai State Natural Biosphere Reserve Candidate of Historical Sciences S.V. Trifanova. Within the boundaries of this reserve at the cordon Chelyush the location of barrows, that form a chain, were studied. The revealed surface finds (fragments of ceramic ware with a characteristic ornamentation with blind holes) allows preliminary dating of the finds to the Early Iron Age.

A.U. Urbushev took part in the work of the Youth Archaeological School on Lake Teletskoye, which is aimed at studying, searching and preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the unique natural object of the Altai Reserve. He gave a lecture for the school participants from different parts of Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Gorno-Altaysk, Kemerovo, Vladivostok, etc.) dedicated to the study of rock art sites of the Altai Mountains and methods of archaeological documentation of different types of monuments. During the visit, further scientific cooperation in the field of archaeological studies was discussed and a decision was made to conclude an agreement on scientific cooperation between the Institute of Archaeology named after A.Kh. Khalikov of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences and the Altai State Natural Biosphere Reserve.