RESULTS OF NEW RESEARCH ON THE SUZMOYILOTA ROCK ART © 2025

Abstract

The Suzmoyilota rock art site, located in the Jizzakh oasis, has recently been the subject of in-depth research using modern technologies and tools. With the help of Agisoft software, 3D models of certain rock surfaces were created, while QGIS software was used to develop a detailed location map of the petroglyphs. As a result of archaeological surveys conducted in the area, more than 800 petroglyphs have been recorded, over 500 of which are newly discovered. The petroglyphs at the Suzmoyilota site were created using techniques such as pecking, scratching and rubbing on the smooth surfaces of slate rocks. In terms of style, they can be categorized into shadowed, contour, and schematic representations. Additionally, the petroglyphs display varying degrees of sun-induced patination, ranging in color from light brown to dark brown and black. The stylistic features, techniques of execution, thematic content and levels of solar exposure of the newly discovered petroglyphs were analyzed and compared to assist in determining their approximate age. Based on these analyses, the rock art at Suzmoyilota has been preliminarily dated to the Bronze Age, the Early Iron Age (Saka-Scythian period), Antiquity and the Middle Ages.