Rock Art Research

The Ili Valley, a key area for trans-Eurasian cultural communications, occupies a significant geographical location in Central Asia. This paper documents  four newly discovered rock art sites in this area. The sites, predominantly featuring ‘ibex’ motifs, reflect the region’s nomadic cultural heritage and ecological environment. Furthermore, microerosion analysis, employing the Universal Calibration  Curve, was conducted on petroglyphs and a stone menhir, accounting for orographic precipitation effects. The results underscore the cultural significance of these sites  as markers of ancient nomadic life in the Ili Valley and highlight the challenges of  dating in mountainous regions.