Study of Petroglyphs on the Pegtymel River in 2024

Petroglyphs in the Pegtymel River basin represent probably a northernmost rock art group in Asia. The group consists of three sites – main rock art site of Keeneykuul, and small satellite sites – Keynyney and Ankapagrat. All three sites are located on the right bank of the Pegtymel (northwestern part of Chukotka) in 50–60 km of shore of the East Siberian Sea and situated on Keeneykuul cliff of structuraltectonic origin between two tributaries of Pegtymel – the Keeneykuul and Kychakvaam streams. The rock art site was discovered in 1965 by geologist N.M. Samorukov and in 1967–1968 it was studied and described by archaeologist N.N. Dikov. In the periods from 1999 to 2001 and from 2005 to 2008, the petroglyphs of Pegtimel were studied by several expeditions, but after 2008, specialists did not visit the site. In 2020, studies the Pegtymel petroglyphs were resumed in order to monitor the state of petroglyph preservation and catalogue the whole set of petroglyphs with the aid of modern technical means. In August 2024, the members of the Petroglyphic team of IA RAS conducted the reconnaissance of the area and continue scanning petroglyphs at the main location (Keeneykul cliff) for threedimensional modeling. As a result of this year’s work, more than 160 plates with petroglyphs were digitized, many of which were located in hard-to-reach places (on cliffs and at high altitude). In addition, reconnaissance of the way to the satellite site of the Ankapagrat petroglyphs at 2.7 km downstream from the Keyney site was conducted. A planned and prospective aerial survey was carried out at this site and a site located at the edge of the cliff, directly above the petroglyphs (“the third Neolithic site” according to N.N. Dikov)

Archaeology · Geography · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Soil and Environmental Studies · Geology