Landscape and connections : petroglyphs of the Altai in the 2nd and 1st Millennium BCE
This thesis presents a holistic study of connections in the Altai Mountains of the eastern Eurasian Steppe, as shown by rock-art. Currently divided by four countries, pecked images (petroglyphs) and painted images from the 2<sup>nd</sup>-1<sup>st</sup> millennium BCE have been subjected to very separate research traditions, exacerbated by language barriers. This thesis focusses on the entire Altai Mountain range as a study area, integrating research published in Chinese and Russian, with supplementary literature in Kazakh and Mongolian consulted. To demonstrate the potential for connectivity and, consequently, movement, a map of accessibility was generated, showing that there are various optimal routes for movement throughout the Altai. The locations of rock-art sites relative to these routes indicate that movement was a key feature contributing to the creation of rock-art. Examining topographic features in the vicinity of rock-art sites of three regions (Mongolia, Russia, PRC) highlighted an association between watercourses and sites, whilst studying the micro-landscape within panels found that the creators of rock-art were not representing the tangible spatial relationship of figures to the landscape. More
O'Sullivan, Rebecca
Petroglyphs ; Archaeology ; Rock art ; Prehistoric peoples ; Landscape ; Northern China ; Altai ; Mongolia ; GIS ; Xinjiang ; 1st millennium BCE ; 2nd millennium BCE ; Altai Republic ; Connections ; ArcGIS
Landscape and connections : petroglyphs of the Altai in the 2nd and 1st Millennium BCE. This thesis presents a holistic study of connections in the Altai Mountains of the eastern Eurasian Steppe, as shown by rock-art. Currently divided by four countries, pecked images (petroglyphs) and painted images from the 2<sup>nd</sup>-1<sup>st</sup> millennium BCE have been subjected to very separate research traditions, exacerbated by language barriers. This thesis focusses on the entire Altai Mountain range as a study area, integrating research published in Chinese and Russian, with supplementary literature in Kazakh and Mongolian consulted. To demonstrate the potential for connectivity and, consequently, movement, a map of accessibility was generated, showing that there are various optimal routes for movement throughout the Altai. The locations of rock-art sites relative to these routes indicate that movement was a key feature contributing to the creation of rock-art. Examining topographic features in the vicinity of rock-art sites of three regions (Mongolia, Russia, PRC) highlighted an association between watercourses and sites, whilst studying the micro-landscape within panels found that the creators of rock-art were not representing the tangible spatial relationship of figures to the landscape. More
landscape connection millennium_bce present holistic study connection mountains eastern eurasian_steppe show rock_art currently divide_four country image paint image bce subject separate tradition exacerbate language barrier focus entire mountain range study_area integrate publish chinese russian supplementary literature mongolian consult potential connectivity consequently movement map accessibility generate show various optimal route movement throughout location rock_art site relative route indicate movement key_feature contribute_creation rock_art examining topographic feature vicinity rock_art site region russia highlight association watercourse site whilst study micro landscape within find creator rock_art represent tangible spatial_relationship figure landscape