Ancient Turkic Stone Statues at Tuura-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

Fully and partially preserved ancient Turkic stone statues discovered by the Kyrgyz archaeologists at Tuura-Suu, Issyk-Kul Region, Kyrgyzstan, are described with reference to the burial practices of the ancient Turks during the time when the Western Turkic and Tyurgesh states existed in the Tien Shan and Zhetysu. On the basis of archaeological parallels to the artifacts shown on the statues, their chronology and cultural attribution are assessed, and their diagnostic features are specified. The completely preserved statue showing a figure in man's clothes and with weapons may be that of a high-ranking female warrior. -

Keywords: Ancient Turks; stone statues; burial rite; Tuura-Suu; Issyk-Kul Basin; Kyrgyzstan.