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Issyk-Kul as a cultural and natural landscape

Kyrgyzstan (Asia and the Pacific)

Date of Submission: 29/01/2001
Criteria: (i)(iii)(iv)
Category: Cultural
Submission prepared by:
Kyrgyz National Commission for UNESCO
State, Province or Region:
EIssyk-Kul region (oblast), Town of Cholpon-Ata
Coordinates:
42°45' N - 77°10'
Ref.: 1517

Description

The area of the Issyk-Kul basin has been attracting scholars of the world for a long time. The ancient archaeological sites here are dated to the palaeolithic period, some findings refer to the mesolithic and early neolithic periods, a substantial layer is characteristic of the late neolithic period and Bronze Age. Further on the area culture of saks (VII?III centuries B.C.) and usuns (III century B.C. ? I century A.D.) was spread. Many archaeological sites remained from the period when Turkic tribes were in power on the area (VI?XII centuries A.D.), from the medieval sites the submerged ruins of "Timur's Palace" are the most well known. In the Middle Ages the development of the region was greatly influenced by active trade between East and West: branches of the Great Silk Road went through the Issyk?Kul basin.

Cholpon?Ata Petroglyphs in the Issyk?Kul basin represent a unique open?air museum, reflecting spiritual world and life of the ancient nomadic population inhabiting the coast of the Issyk?Kul lake. Cholpon?Ata petroglyphs belong to the richest and biggest collections of rock pictures in Central Asia and Kazakhstan. On the are of 44 km long from east to west and 0,6 ?2 km wide there are tens of thousands of boulders brought down by land?slides from the slopes of the Kunghey Ala?Too mountain range. Cholpon?Ata petroglyphs represent a most important source of studies on history, tangible and intangible heritage of the ancient and medieval Kyrgyzstan. Cholpon?Ata petroglyphs are dated back to the period between II millennium B.C. and VIII century A.D. But the most part of them is referred to the period of VII ? III centuries B.C. According to the common opinion of researchers that was the peak period of the sak?scythian animal's style which was widely reflected in rock pictures art. One of the characteristic features of the petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata and in the whole Issyk-Kul basin is the fact that they are found on or near the ancient burial places. Excavation materials of these burials can help to specify dates of rock pictures and to identify their ethnic and cultural context.