Megalithic Portal: Latest from Kyrgyzstan

Cholpon-Ata Petroglyphs

Anne T — Thu, 14 May 2026 12:44:18 GMT

]]>A petroglyph field covering 42 hectares in the foothills above Cholpon-Ata on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. Hundreds of glacial boulders, deposited at the edge of the lake plain by retreating ice, bear ancient carvings of deer, bulls, horses, wild rams, ibex, snow leopards, and hunting scenes. The earliest carvings date to the late Bronze Age, around 1500 BCE, but the majority were made by Saka-Usun peoples between the 8th century BCE and the 1st century CE.

Karakol Park

h_fenton — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 12:23:51 GMT

]]>Sculptured Stones in Kyrgyzstan. There are about 25 Balbals in the park in the centre of Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, pictured here in 2010. These balbals have been collected from the surrounding countryside. As with anything you might find in a public park some have been vandalised, including being daubed with paint. the stones seem pretty neglected some hidden in undergrowth or toppled over, most of the stones here stand aound 1.5metres of of the ground although there are some taller and also shorter examples.

Saimaly-Tash

KaiHofmann — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 19:49:40 GMT

Rock Art in Kyrgyzstan

The Heavenly Horses

KaiHofmann — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 19:48:14 GMT

Rock Art in Kyrgyzstan

Balasagun stone Balbas

KaiHofmann — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:11:28 GMT

Sculptured standing stones or tomb markers of the 6th to 8th century CE.

East Song Köl Balbal

h_fenton — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:05:57 GMT

]]>A balbal still in its original position (possibly re-erected) in the countryside marking a small rectangular burial site defined by a line a small stones. this is located close to the road at the eastern end of Song Köl (lake), Kyrgyzstan.

Karakol Regional Museum

h_fenton — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:50:29 GMT

]]>Museum in Kyrgyzstan. Karakol Regional History Museum, has displays on petroglyphs from a cave at AK Chunkur; Photos of metalwork dating from 5th-3rd century BCE found in burial mounds (kurgan) at Barskoon; a few balbals (stone heads - burial marks) outside. There is very little labelling on anything ancient or archaeological. There is a general map of ancient sites around Issyk Kol including petroglyphs and burial mounds.

State Historical Museum of Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek

h_fenton — Tue, 26 May 2009 06:37:44 GMT

]]>Museum in Kyrgyzstan