Old Turkic Stone Statues from Taldy-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

Old Turkic Stone Statues from Taldy-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2017.45.3.090-095

Y.S. Hudiakov^{1, 2}, A.Y. Borisenko², and Z. Orozbekova^{1, 2
1}Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
²Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova 1, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

Anthropomorphic stone statues, discovered near Taldy-Suu, the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan, are described with reference to the earlier (19th to early 21st century) scholarship, and are attributed to the Old Turkic tradition. One of them shows a male warrior. We focus on his costume, belt, weapons, and the vessel held in his right hand. The other statue is of a woman. The chronology and cultural affinities, specifically in relation to Old Turkic statues of other areas of the Tian Shan, are assessed.

Keywords: Old Turks, stone statues, memorial constructions, Tian Shan, Issyk-Kul Basin.