Authors Mariyashev A. N.
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Among the anthropomorphic images (photo 17, 18) found there are sun-headed idols, figures of people, of archers, horse-riders, S-shaped and solar symbols and animals (fig 3). The animals include bull, horse, deer, argali, predator, dog, and goat. There are no large multi-figured compositions. The scenes of hunting and cattle drives, plots with scenes offissipedes tormenting phytophagous animals, fights between archers and sacrifices. Figures of men with their hands raised are prevalent.
These images are from different times. The main portion of the paintings, by its style and topic, is comparable with the petroglyphs of the Bronze Age in the main canyon Tamgaly. The images of animals in the higher part of the hills were executed in the Scythian-Siberian "animal" style.
The not very high Serektas mountains are located in 16-18 km. to northeast of the ridge of Anrakhai. They can be considered hills that are 250-300 meters higher than the plains. The highest point of the mountains is 600 meters above sea level and is located opposite the natural boundary, Tamgaly in 16 km. to northwest.
On the peak of these hills are carved images of deer, bulls, goats, argali, hunting archers, figures of people with their hands raised, and solar symbols.
The most interesting concentration of Petroglyphs was discovered on a rock, raising above a dry canyon. The dry stream of this canyon split the mountains from southeast to northwest. Some right-angled stone ornamentation has been preserved under the rock, on a low terrace, part of which has been late disassembled for use as a livestock shelter. This was the foundation of houses of an early Iron Age settlement. The remains of the housing constructions shows that there were 6-8 houses on this settlement.
On the next standing rock there are figures of argali, deer, bulls, and goats that have been executed in the "animal" style. They can be regarded as part of the settlement and were crated in the same time.
The images of Yurts (photo 19a, 19b, 19c) differ from the main part of Petroglyphs by their knockout technique and color of patina. It seems that they were later drawn on the surface of the rock. Small rectangular figures can be viewed in these images, and this can possibly mean the entrance. In total there are approximately 50-60 images that have been hammered into the rock, located above the settlement.
The mutual arrangement of these early Iron Age settlements and the rock with Petroglyphs make us to regard them as a sanctuary of the local meaning, which belonged to one and the same group of people.
The natural boundary Oy-Jailau* (*the name of the place) is located in the Kurdai region of Jambul oblast* (Kazakhstan is divided into 17 oblasts, and each oblast is divided into several regions), among the Kyndyktas mountains, 40 km. to the West of the Otyrar station. It is a mountainous plateau surrounded by small hills. It is 1200 meters above the level. The Deep ravines cut across the plateau. These ravines are ancient river channels that have been flowing down to the plain from the southeast to northwest. The natural boundary extends for 6-7 km. from east to west and 4-5 km. from north to south.
The Petroglyphs are located in the northwestern portion of the natural boundary, on the left bank of a small river. Petroglyphs were made on several levels of the large cliff blockes. There are approximately 100 designs, representing different epochs starting from the Bronze Age up thought the Ancient Turk time.
Petroglyphs of the Bronze age are located in the western part at the ends of the cliffs. There are approximately 50 images. Two, horse-riders , facing each other and with inscriptions in their hands were discovered in the upper part of the cliff. Next to this were hammered out bull and camel figures. At the foot of the cliff, under a collapsed block from the cliff were found the large images of a bull and goat. Above these images are two men in poses of adoration. The majority of the animals were made in the Tamgaly tradition (fig 4).
On the blocks with an eastern exposure on this same cliff are depecited a deer whose snout resembles bird's beak (fig 5). The deer is shown in its characteristic pose with straight legs and an elongated snout. Behind its shoulders is the characteristic hump and its eyes are in the shape of two concentric circles that are inserted into each other. The figures of two predators from the feline family with ??? like symbols is located on the crest of the round hill are dated to the time of the Saaks.
