Kurchum district

Tulkune Petroglyphs (Figure 1). The monument is located 850 meters northeast of the village of Beszhyldyk in the Kurchum District, on the left bank of the Kurchum River, where there are high hills with flat tops. On the ridges of these hills, there are outcrops and exposures of shale rock. Petroglyphs from different periods have been identified on the vertical and horizontal surfaces of these outcrops, within a radius of 1.5–2 km.

Six surfaces with signs and symbols have been identified at the Tulkune monument.

Surface 1 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'31.20"N 83°51'59.39"E) has an exposure angle of 45 degrees from the horizon. Surface 1 contains one symbol (Figure 2).

Surface 2 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'30.20"N 83°52'0.72"E) has an exposure angle of 45 degrees from the horizon. Surface 2 contains three symbols (Figure 3).

Surface 3 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'30.69"N 83°52'1.16"E) has a horizontal exposure. Surface 3 contains one symbol (Figure 4).

Surface 4 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'30.62"N 83°52'1.84"E) has a horizontal exposure. Surface 4 contains several symbols (Figure 5). Part of the surface is obscured due to a vulgar drawing made by modern vandals.

Surface 5 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'30.33"N 83°52'1.56"E) has a vertical exposure. Surface 5 contains one symbol (Figure 6).

Surface 6 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'29.72"N 83°52'0.54"E) has a vertical exposure. Surface 6 contains numerous drawings (Figure 7).

Dolanaly Petroglyphs (Figure A.33) In the existing scientific literature, the rock engravings of the homonymous Dolanaly monuments are often confused. The first Dolanaly monument is located in the Markakol District (an administrative-territorial unit in eastern Kazakhstan, which was part of the East Kazakhstan Region, existing during the periods 1928–1930, 1939–1963, and 1964–1997. On August 30, 2023, by decision of the city maslikhat, the Markakol District was re-established, with its administrative center in the village of Markakol). The second monument, which will be discussed here, is located in the Kurchum District of the East Kazakhstan Region. The confusion arose as a result of the merging of the two districts at the end of the last century.

The images on this monument are carved into boulders and outcrops of dark-gray bedrock. Petroglyphs from two periods — the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age — are clearly visible. The Early Iron Age petroglyphs depict deer and mountain goats, some of which are executed in the Scytho-Siberian animal style.

Three surfaces with signs and symbols have been identified at the Dolanaly monument:

Surface 1 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'52.02"N 83°56'23.90"E) has an exposure angle of 45 degrees from the horizon. On Surface 1, there is one symbol (Figure 1).

Surface 2 has a vertical exposure. On Surface 2 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'40.86"N 83°56'20.17"E), there is one symbol (Figure 2), which is poorly discernible in the texture but visible in the relief of the surface (Figure 3).

Surface 3 (Coordinates WGS1984: 48°35'31.63"N 83°56'16.95"E) has a horizontal exposure. On Surface 3, there are two symbols (Figure 4).