Project Goal
To create and launch a unified digital platform for documenting, researching, and preserving petroglyphs of Central Asia. The platform will serve as a resource for uniting the efforts of researchers, cultural activists, and local communities, and as a tool for knowledge transmission and the strengthening of cultural identity.
Geographic Scope
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, potentially Tajikistan and Siberia (Russia).
Participants
Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Altaians, Yakuts — indigenous peoples of the region with traditional knowledge related to rock art.
Key Objectives
- Develop partnerships with organizations from Central Asia: sign agreements, distribute responsibilities.
- Conduct cabinet and field research on 2–3 lesser-known petroglyph complexes in each country.
- Document and digitize the collected materials.
- Reconstruct the petroglyphs.kg website and transform it into a regional digital platform.
- Engage youth and women in research and preservation activities.
Expected Results
- A unified digital platform of Central Asian petroglyphs accessible to a wide audience.
- Involvement of local communities in the study and preservation of heritage, contributing to cultural identity.
- Regional cooperation among Central Asian countries in the field of rock art protection.
- Greater visibility and accessibility of traditional knowledge.
Methodology
- Collection of oral testimonies and literature review.
- Online and in-person meetings with project partners.
- High-resolution photographic documentation of petroglyphs.
- Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to integrate location data into the platform.
Context and Relevance
The project continues Aigine’s strategic work initiated in 2022. In the face of weak state policies and threats from industrial development (e.g., coal mining), the initiative aims to urgently document, preserve, and reinterpret rock art heritage. A combined scientific and traditional approach is applied: materials are enriched with folklore, oral history, and knowledge from tradition bearers.
Example: The Murdash Bashy complex, documented by Aigine in 2022, now exists only in digital form — on petroglyphs.kg.
Project Partners
- “Uly Tagzym” (Kazakhstan)
- “Umrbokiy Meros” (Uzbekistan)
- “Kukhhoi Pamir” (Tajikistan)
- “Destination Talas” and “Destination Karakol” (Kyrgyzstan)
Communication and Outreach
Project results are disseminated via television, radio, and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram), as well as through presentations and publications. Communication targets both the older generation and youth audiences.