Saimaluu-Tash
Kyrgyzstan · Asia
A sacred valley at 3,200 metres where perhaps ninety thousand images crowd the dark stones
Age
~2,000–5,000 yrs
Period
Bronze Age to Saka-Scythian
Setting
Open-air
Art form
Petroglyphs
Discovered
1902
Status
Open (July–August Only)
High in the Fergana Range, reachable only in high summer, the 'embroidered stones' of Saimaluu-Tash form one of the densest concentrations of rock art on Earth — images on more than ten thousand basalt boulders, from Bronze Age sun-deities, ibex and plough teams to Saka-era riders. Snow seals the sacred valley for most of the year, which has kept it remarkably intact.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ The 'embroidered stones' valley
- ◦ Bronze Age sun-deity panels
- ◦ Plough and chariot scenes
Depicted Subjects
IbexHorsesHunting ScenesSun SymbolsDancing Figures
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.