Tamga petroglyphs from the southwestern part of Zhetysu Alatau

Abstract

In this article, signs and tamgas from Southwestern Zhetysu Alatau are introduced into scientific circulation, they represent a new layer of graphic data for this region. During archaeological research conducted by the authors, more than 1000 stones with knocked-out drawings in Kaishi and about 200 stones in the Maly Usek valley north of Zharkent (Panfilovsky district, Almaty region) were documented. Among them, many tamgas or signs similar to tamgas were found. Some of the signs presented here may not be tamgas but are published for further discussion. Tamga is a generic family mark, a seal that was placed on ancestral property, including cattle. As a rule, a descendant of a certain kind borrowed the tamga of his ancestor and added an additional element to it or modified it. These tamga signs carved in the rock date from the early Turkic period (8th century) to the beginning of the 20th century. This publication represents the first level of generalization of data on about a dozen tamgas and signs obtained in the field. Further efforts are needed to identify links with archaeological sites and rock paintings in areas where tamgas are recorded.