Abstract
The publication introduces the results of a survey of the landscape of the Ulken Shabakty Valley. In 2022, the entire middle and lower part of this gorge was surveyed in detail and all petroglyphs were taken into account. A statistical analysis of rock carvings has been carried out: petroglyphs of the Early Iron Age predominate. Petroglyphs of all eras are found, rare petroglyphs of the Bronze Age are unique. On the left bank of the river, a line of settlements is marked, where agricultural implements of the late 19th early 20th centuries were found. Here, the natural and climatic conditions have favored farming throughout human history, where living conditions were better than in a semi-desert plain. A brief history of the study of Karatau rock art monuments is given, priority is given to the monuments of South Karatau three ridges: Boraldai, Bolshoy and Maly Karatau, as well as the Talas and Ugam ranges.