From May 14 to 16, 2025, the Aigine Cultural Research Center carried out a working visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as part of its regional collaboration strategy and efforts to develop a unified digital platform for Central Asian petroglyphs. On the morning of May 14, Aigine CRC Director Dr. Gulnara Aitpaeva met with the Scientific Research Institute of Cultural Studies and Intangible Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan. She presented Aigine’s approach to safeguarding intangible heritage through tangible mediums such as books and visual media, sharing publications that document traditional knowledge and animated films designed to transmit cultural values to younger generations. Discussions centered on integrating oral histories, legends, and folk beliefs into petroglyph interpretation alongside archaeological research, and the meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for long-term cooperation.
In the afternoon, the Aigine team, together with petroglyph specialist Ramazan Egamov, met with Farhod Alimjanovich Maksudov, Director of the State Center of Archaeology under the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. The team shared the goal of their visit — to promote an integrated approach to petroglyph research that combines archaeological and ethnographic methods and includes local community knowledge in interpretation. Immediately after the meeting, the group traveled to the Khojikent petroglyph complex near Tashkent, accompanied by archaeologists Gayrathon Mukhtarov and Bekzod Isabekov from the State Center of Archaeology. On site, participants exchanged views on how an ethnographic perspective can enrich interpretation, reflecting not only factual aspects of ancient life but also elements of living culture, mythology, and worldview of Central Asian peoples. Aigine CRC expresses sincere gratitude to the Scientific Research Institute of Cultural Studies and Intangible Cultural Heritage for the warm welcome, and to the State Center of Archaeology for their support in organizing the visit to the petroglyphs.
On May 16, the Aigine team visited the Boshkyzylsoy petroglyph complex near the village of Nevich, a site recommended by Professor Mukhitdin Khujanazarov. Estimated to date from the 4th to 1st centuries BCE with later additions, the complex retains remarkable ancient carvings despite partial erosion. During the visit, the team met with local resident Usman Mirzayev, who shared stories passed down from his grandfather about the petroglyphs as “pictures on the stones left by our forefathers.” By sharing these stories with younger generations, Usman preserves a living link between the site and community memory, demonstrating the vital role of local voices in sustaining cultural heritage.