25–29 August 2025 – The Aigine Cultural Research Center team—Chynar Seidakhmatova and manaschi Döölötbek Sydykov—together with partner Zhanerke Shaigozova, carried out fieldwork in the Mangystau region of Kazakhstan. The research combined documentation of petroglyph sites with an exploration of their cultural, historical, and natural contexts.
Ancient Sites and Living Traditions
- Koskuduk Complex (near the Caspian Sea) — Dating back to the Eneolithic era, Koskuduk preserves some of the oldest carvings in the region.
- Ayrakty Petroglyphs (Shetpe, 14th–18th centuries) — These carvings, etched into soft limestone, highlight both the artistic heritage and the vulnerability of the material to erosion. Against the backdrop of the Ayrakty mountains, manaschi Döölötbek Sydykov performed an excerpt from the Manas epic, “Kökötöy’s Feast”, underscoring the continuity between ancient heritage and living oral traditions.
- Karaman Ata Necropolis (12th–18th centuries) — A sacred site where engraved motifs blur the line between architecture and rock art. Pilgrims still visit today, lighting candles (sham zhaguu) as part of their rituals.
- Tanbaly Tas (near Senek) — A monumental stone inscribed with the tamgas (tribal symbols) of the Adai, likely marking tribal boundaries or territory.
Local narratives further enrich these landscapes. One interpretation of the region’s name, Mangystau, derives from myn qystau— “a thousand wintering places”—reflecting its long history as a center of nomadic livestock camps.