Tanbaly Tas Petroglyphs

The name Tanbaly Tas (translated from Kazakh as "stone with signs" or "painted stone") is traditionally applied to many rock art monuments in Southeastern Kazakhstan, which often causes confusion among travelers.

• Tanbaly Tas in the Altyn-Emel National Park: These are petroglyphs found in the canyons of the Sholak Mountains (Taigak, Terekty, etc.).
• Tamgaly Tas on the Ili River: Located further downstream, outside the park boundaries (near the city of Konaev). This site is famous for its images of Buddha and Tibetan inscriptions.
• Tanbaly (Tamgaly) Tract: A museum-reserve located 170 km northwest of Almaty (in the Chu-Ili Mountains). Its name has now been officially updated to Tanbaly, in accordance with Kazakh linguistic norms.

The Tanbaly Tas petroglyphs in the Altyn-Emel National Park represent a unique gallery of rock art, spanning a colossal period from the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age to the Middle Ages. These drawings are part of a vast belt of rock art that stretches through the mountains and foothills from the Altai to the Pamirs.

On patinated rocks darkened by time, ancient masters created their "messages." This was not random creativity; the engraving of these images was ritualistic in nature, and the craftsmanship was passed down from generation to generation.

These natural canvases depict scenes of hunting, nomadic migrations, and mysterious rituals. Anthropomorphic figures coexist here with geometric signs and solar symbols (images of sun-headed deities).

The majority of the petroglyphs date back to the Saka era. Scientists believe these drawings are inextricably linked to the Besshatyr Necropolis, located nearby. Images of deer, argali, mountain goats, and snow leopards reflect the nomads' profound reverence for the forces of nature upon which their survival depended.

In the Taigak gorge, one can find rare depictions of elephants and Buddhist inscriptions — the famous prayer formula "Om mani padme hum". Their appearance is associated with the spread of Buddhism in the 9th–10th centuries and its support during the era of Mongol influence in the 13th century. The first sketch of this late Buddhist monument was made in 1856 by the Kazakh scholar Shokan Walikhanov, who took a keen interest in Eastern religion and culture. Given the high concentration of inscriptions, a Buddhist lama monastery may have once existed in this area (possibly on the site of the current Taigak ranger station).

Together with the Saka necropolis of Besshatyr, the Tanbaly Tas petroglyph complex holds immense cultural and historical value and is under the auspices of UNESCO.