Tamgaly Archaeological Landscape Rock Carvings

Tamgaly Archaeological Landscape Rock Carvings

The Tamgaly Archaeological Landscape Rock Carvings are located in the Tamgaly Gorge and were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. Surrounded by vast mountains, the gorge is set among the arid valleys between the Chu and Ili Rivers, and contains more than 5,000 remarkable ancient rock carvings that span from around 1000 BC to the early 20th century.

Most of these works are scattered across sites of ancient human habitation, buildings, and tombs, reflecting aspects of local farming, social organization, and religious rituals. In addition, the Tamgaly Gorge features large areas of ancient burial grounds, with intricate petroglyphs engraved on low walls and foundation ruins, which have been identified as remnants of ancient altars used for offering sacrifices and commemorating fallen heroes. Among the rock carvings, human figures are the least depicted, while animals are the most commonly illustrated. Scholars have come to recognize these images as one of humanity’s earliest forms of visual expression—crucial pre-writing records that provide invaluable information for reconstructing human history.