Events
Achievements, perspectives of preservation, and management of the natural and cultural heritage of Sarmishsay
It is known, that Uzbekistan is a country with large number of petroglifs. Our ancestors have used the stone surfaces in order to transfer their art, thoughts, and ideas to future people. These images have versatile meanings and views compared to other archaeological sites and attract attention of people. The rock art sites connect ancient and modern people and are an important historical source. Today on the territory of Uzbekistan, there are more than 150 sites of rock art. The most ancient sites are related to Mesolithic period and the most recent ones are dated to medieval to modern periods. The Nurata Mountains are a place with the biggest number of rock art sites. The biggest petroglifs are related to the closest places to water sources. The images were done on vertical and horizontal surfaces using various methods – scratching, engraving, and rubbing and by colorful painting. Most of the images have not been studied yet. The most studied ones are images of Sarmyshsaj, which are included into the list of World heritage.
The Sramyshsaj Complex contains more than 200 archaeological sites, including settlements and mines of Stone Age, hills of the Antiquity and Medieval periods, cemeteries, kurgans, rock engravings. The most representative one are petroglifs of Sarmyshsaj, engraved on the rocks of the middle part of the Tract. There are 500 of them. During the last 10 years many investigations were conducted in the Sarmyshsaj. Today the researchers of the institute of Archaeology almost completed the works on creation of the map of archaeological sites of the area. In 2004 the Khakim of Navoi Vilayat has issued an Order which makes Sramyshsaj a Historical and Cultural Museum-Protected Area. However, there are many problems waiting for their solution.