The State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Esik» took part in the International exhibition «Horse Culture» in Rock Art organized by the Administration for the Protection of the Petroglyphic Complex of the Mongolian Altai.
The exhibition featured photographs of archaeological sites in the Ketpen Range, Kuraily and Karakungey, which have been studied by the museum-reserve since 2016. It also included images of the Arpaözen petroglyphs from the archive of S. Murgabayev. In 2021, the Arpaözen petroglyphs were included on UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
The exhibition aimed to share scientific knowledge about ancient equestrian culture, highlight the importance of preserving world heritage, promote the historical and cultural significance of rock art in Mongolia, the Russian Altai and neighboring regions, and show the connections between them.
The exhibition took place on 25 September in the central square of Bayan-Ölgii Province. Visitors were able to view depictions of horses in the rock art of the Altai and Zhetysu and learn about the role of the nomadic equestrian civilization.
Following the museum-reserve’s participation, its director, Azimkhan Koilybayev, received a letter of appreciation from Mongolia’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy, the Governor’s Office of Bayan-Ölgii Province, and the Administration for the Protection of the World Heritage Site.