Archaeologists encounter extraordinary alfresco gallery of prehistoric art in the stunning Altai Mountains, in Siberia. Archaeologists in Siberia have begun uncovering an extraordinary alfresco gallery of prehistoric art high in the 4,506-metre tall Altai Mountains. While the region is famed for petroglyphs (rock engravings), new finds are being made in the hidden and rarely-visited Saldyar valley, close to the fast-flowing Katun River. Here beneath the densely-wooded slopes they are discovering remarkable rock pictures dating back 5,000 years, close to Russias border with China and Mongolia. The Altai Mountains in southern Siberia are one of the great undiscovered tourist destinations, featuring breathtaking lakes and peaks, with many signs of the ancient lost world, such as burial mounds, standing stones and the exhibition of petroglyphs, many from the Bronze and Iron ages. The mountain range is also known as the Siberian Switzerland Many of the carvings are found on rocks that form a symbolic rock garden, with the suns beams helping to illuminate the artistic work and making them appear similar to photograph negatives. According to Altai legend, the location of these megaliths was a result of the mythical hero Sartaksakpay, who is said to have jokingly changed the direction of the rivers and scattered the mountain valleys with huge rocks. Archaeologists studying the petroglyphs found that the ancient artists had several favourite images, including the Siberian mountain goat, which has always been seen as a symbol of success and good luck as well as being good hunting prey. Another of the most popular images at Saldyar is the long horned bull, a symbol of a bygone era that once roamed in Ancient Egypt, Mycenaean Greece and Central Asia. Please find out more at: dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2817720/Archaeologists-encounter-extraordinary-alfresco-gallery-prehistoric-art-stunning-Altai-Mountains-one-great-undiscovered-tourist-destinations-Siberia.html
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:15:39 +0000
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