Sulek Petroglyphs (Pisanitsa)

The Sulek Petroglyphs are a collection of images located in northern Khakassia, in the mountains along the Pechishche River (a tributary of Chyorniy Ilyus) and the Sulfatnoye Lake. The central location was discovered in the mid-19th century and became known for its runic inscriptions and scenes depicting the life of the local population during the Middle Ages.

The most artistically refined petroglyphs at the Sulek Pisanitsa date from the 6th to 12th centuries AD, during the period of the Yenisey Kyrgyz. These include two runic inscriptions in different dialects, both saying “Eternal Mount.” Other medieval images depict horsemen in plate armor, archers shooting from a kneeling position, mounted hunters pursuing prey, and numerous images of animals and birds, including fantastical creatures. Historians consider an image, believed to represent the senior ancient Turkic deities Tengri and Umai, to be unique. This concise engraving is valuable because the ancient Turkic culture features very few deity images, even though written sources provide considerable information about those deities. Visual representations are rare. Therefore, the presence of this image is significant, as it indicates external cultural influences on the ancient Turks.

Location:  Russia, Republic of Khakassia, Ordzhonikidzievsky District

The archeological studies began in:  These images are known from as early as the mid-19th century. They were first thoroughly documented during the expedition led by I.R. Aspelin, and in the works by A.V. Adtrianov from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.

Human species:  From the late 3rd millennium BC to ethnographic modernity.

Study history

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many researchers visited the Sulek mountains, creating the first descriptions and drawings of the site. The Finnish expedition led by I.R. Aspelin and the work of A.V. Adrianov, a prominent researcher of rock art in the Minusinsk Depression, were particularly successful. The Finnish scholars hypothesized that the runic inscriptions found at southern Siberian sites might share an origin with Nordic runes (hence their initial designation as “runes”). The researchers carefully studied the Pisanaya and Solyanaya mountains, but ultimately concluded that the engraved letters in Siberia were of independent origin. In addition to these first two mountains, A.V. Adrianov also studied Ozyorskaya mountain, discovered petroglyphs on the right bank of the Pechishchi River, created paper copies (reprints) of the images, and took photographs.

Since the second half of the 20th century, the study of these petroglyphs has continued, notably in the works of L.R. Kyzlasov, A.I. Martynov, I.L. Kyzlasov, E.A. Miklashevich, and others. Specialists have discovered new image arrays and offered interpretations of existing ones. However, despite the long history of research, a complete documentation of the Sulek Petroglyphs remains incomplete, including the central frieze measuring 4^x2 meters. Unfortunately, in the 20th and 21st centuries, these delicate medieval engravings have been damaged by modern inscriptions and graffiti in many locations. Today, for some images, trace drawings from the 19th and 20th centuries are the only remaining evidence. Nevertheless, the majority of the Sulek Petroglyphs has been preserved and awaits thorough documentation and protection.

Most well-known images

An Image of Tengri and Umai in the Sulek Petroglyphs. 1998 (In Russ.)

Museumification of Sulek Petroglyphs: Reconstruction Opportunities for Lost and Damaged Compositions. 2013 (In Russ.)