In Chukotka found 30 previously unknown rock paintings
Russian scientists in the framework of this excavation season discovered 31 previously unknown petroglyph on the famous monument of Pegtymel in the Russian Chukotka, thanks to the discovery of the site.
As part of this excavation season, Russian scientists discovered 31 previously unknown petroglyphs on the famous Pegtymel monument in the Russian Chukotka, thanks to which the total number of rock paintings discovered in recent years on its territory has grown to almost 100 cultural monuments. This finding indicates the need to revise the protection status of this region of Chukotka. It's from sb.by.
- The total number of Pegtymel cave paintings rose from 213 in 1986 to 691 in 2026. In other words, over the past 4 seasons of fieldwork, we have identified almost 100 new petroglyphs. Their study suggests that virtually all rock cliffs in the studied region contain at least one pattern, which indicates the need to revise our attitude to their protection.
According to the scientist, individual monuments of rock art in Chukotka are under protection, while the territory between them, where cultural monuments that have not yet been found and studied, can hide, is not protected at the legal level. Svoisky believes that the scientific community and relevant authorities need to consider the idea of putting on the protection and museumification of much larger regions of Pegtymel.
Head of the Petroglyphic Expedition of the IA RAS Elena Levanova drew attention to the fact that the cave paintings found this year are very different in style and elaboration from the already discovered and studied petroglyphs in other regions of Pegtymel. The researchers suggest that the images, which have a rougher and more schematic form, can be copies of more elaborate petroglyphs from parts of the monument discovered in Soviet times, which the ancient inhabitants of Chukotka tried to repeat several generations later.
Photo by IA RAN.
