Petroglyphs of Sikachi-Alyan
Russia · Asia
Spiral-eyed masks pecked into Amur basalt — boulders the river's spring ice still shifts and buries
Age
~1,500–14,000 yrs
Period
Mesolithic to Early Middle Ages
Setting
Open-air
Art form
Petroglyphs
Discovered
1859
Status
Open (Riverbank Site — Seasonal Access)
On the right bank of the Amur below the Nanai village of Sikachi-Alyan, dozens of basalt boulders carry pecked faces — broad masks with spiral eyes and rayed headdresses, a style distinctive to the Lower Amur. Elk, boats, snakes and concentric circles accompany them. The tradition is thought to open in the terminal Pleistocene and run on into the early Middle Ages, though the boulders themselves resist direct dating. On Russia’s UNESCO tentative list since 2003, they are still shifted and buried by the river’s spring ice.
Notable Features
- ◦ Spiral-eyed 'lichina' masks
- ◦ Pecked basalt boulders on the Amur bank
- ◦ Elk, boats and concentric circles
Depicted Subjects
MasksElkBoatsSnakesConcentric Circles
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.