Tamgaly II North Outcrop Petroglyphs
Тамғалы II — Солтүстік жартас · Tamgaly North Ridge Outcrop · Tanbaly II North
Late Bronze to Saka-Wusun·Andronovo, Saka, Wusun·🇰🇿 Zhambyl Region, Chu-Ili Mountains, Anrakay North, Kazakhstan
About
About Tamgaly II North Outcrop Petroglyphs
Isolated granite outcrop 600 m north of Tamgaly Main Gorge, a whale-backed ridge exposing 22 vertical panels with 180+ peckings contrasting valley-floor schist. Outcrop preserves the only Tamgaly Iron Age chariot-hunting frieze with four-horse chariots and distinctive ‘Tamgaly cross’ solar sign cut with iron punch. Panels face winter-solstice sunset.
Why it mattersOnly Tamgaly chariot-hunting horizon, bridging Andronovo solar to Saka animal style.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Meaning of Tamgaly cross symbol
- 02Association of chariots with burial cairns below
Theories
- 01Winter-solstice observatory
- 02Elite hunting ritual for Saka chiefs
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1200 BCE–500 CE
- Period
- Late Bronze to Saka-Wusun
- Culture
- Andronovo, Saka, Wusun
- Builders
- Chu-Ili pastoralists
- Purpose
- Ridgetop calendrical shrine and hunting-magic panels
- Abandoned
- c.500 CE Turkic shift
- Rediscovered
- 2001 Rogozhinsky north survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1200 BCE
Early Bronze peckings
c.500 BCE
Saka chariot horizon
2001
North outcrop mapping
2004
UNESCO buffer inclusion
On the ground
Structures & features
43.8085° N · 75.5320° E · 1245 m · 2 mapped features
North Panel N-7 — Four-Horse Chariot Hunt
petroglyph panelGranite wall with two chariots pursuing ibex herd, Saka iron peck
43.8088° N · 75.5325° ETamgaly Cross Slab (Block N-12)
petroglyph panel1.1-m slab with cruciform solar sign with cupule center
43.8082° N · 75.5315° E