Kyrgyzstan archaeologists study rare dragon stele

In Kyrgyzstan, archaeologists from the Kyrgyz National University and Altai State University studied a rare stele featuring two intertwined dragons near the Juu-Ku River.

The team, led by Temirlan Charginov and Alexey Tishkin, documented the sculpture as part of broader international research into Turkic history and culture. They used photogrammetry to create three-dimensional models of stone sculptures from the Turkic period, including the stele originally from a Buddhist temple.

This particular stele is notable because the dragon motif, also found in Mongolia, is unusually well-preserved in Kyrgyzstan. Researchers believe studying it will reveal more about cultural connections between Turkic peoples. The collected data will contribute to a virtual museum database and future scientific publications. The research was part of a larger project involving six international expeditions across Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and the Altai region during the summer of 2026, with over 120 scientists and students participating.

These expeditions also uncovered other archaeological finds, including burial mounds and ancient settlements, offering new insights into the lives of people in Central Asia centuries ago. Researchers hope these discoveries will deepen understanding of burial traditions and cultural interactions.