Meeting with historian and ethnographer Nodyr Kuziyev: On 11 September, we met with Nodyr Kuziyev, historian and ethnographer of Bukhara University. The meeting took place within the framework of the project on creating a database and interactive platform of Central Asian petroglyphs. Kuziyev emphasized the importance of ethnographic interpretation of petroglyphs, noting that questions such as “Why was this particular animal depicted?” or “Why in this form?” are rarely studied, yet they are crucial for understanding the meaning of ancient images and their relation to the worldview of that time. Aigine CRC continues to work on developing an interactive platform that will bring together materials on petroglyphs from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The website will feature photos, descriptions, videos, and research to make information accessible and engaging for all. We are grateful for this insightful discussion and look forward to further fruitful collaboration.

Final preparations: This week, Aigine CRC, in partnership with the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO, is completing the final preparations for an important event — the presentation of the national database created within the framework of the project “Digital Journey into the World of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Kyrgyzstan.” The presentation will take place on 18 September at the Supara Ethno Complex (Kok-Zhar village, Bishkek). The database brings together materials prepared in close cooperation with heritage bearers and communities from across the country: texts, photos, videos, and audio that reveal the rich world of Kyrgyz traditions, knowledge, and practices.