Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea
Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea
The site contains 4,500 petroglyphs carved in the rocks during the Neolithic period dated about 6-7 thousand years ago and located in the Republic of Karelia in the Russian Federation. It is one of the largest such sites in Europe with petroglyphs that document Neolithic culture in Fennoscandia. The serial property encompasses 33 rock art panels in two component parts 300km apart: 22 petroglyph groups at Lake Onega in the District of Pudozhsky featuring a total of over 1,200 figures and 3,411 figures in 11 groups by the White Sea in the District of Belomorsky. The rock art figures at Lake Onega mostly represents birds, animals, half human and half animal figures as well as geometric shapes that may be symbols of the moon and the sun. The petroglyphs of the White Sea are mostly composed of carvings depicting hunting and sailing scenes including their related equipment as well as animal and human footprints. They show significant artistic qualities and testify to the creativity of the Stone Age. The petroglyphs are associated with sites including settlements and burial grounds.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Pétroglyphes du lac Onega et de la mer Blanche
Le site contient 4 500 pétroglyphes gravés dans des rochers au cours de la période néolithique, datés d’il y a environ 6 000 à 7 000 ans et situés en République de Carélie, en Fédération de Russie. C’est l’un des plus grands sites de ce type en Europe avec des pétroglyphes qui documentent la culture néolithique en Fennoscandie. Le bien en série comprend 33 panneaux d’art rupestre présentés en deux éléments constitutifs distants de 300 km : 22 groupes de pétroglyphes du lac Onega dans le district Pudozhsky avec un total de plus de 1 200 figures et 11 groupes réunissant 3 411 gravures au bord de la mer Blanche dans le district de Belomorsk. Les images d’art rupestre du lac Onega représentent principalement des oiseaux, des animaux, des figures mi-humaines et mi-animales ainsi que des formes géométriques qui peuvent être des symboles de la lune et du soleil. Les pétroglyphes de la mer Blanche sont principalement composés de gravures représentant des scènes de chasse et de navigation, y compris les équipements associés, ainsi que des empreintes animales et humaines. Ces pétroglyphes témoignent des qualités artistiques importantes et de la créativité à l’âge de pierre. Les pétroglyphes sont associés à des sites qui comprennent des colonies et des champs funéraires.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
النقوش الصخرية في حوض بحيرة أونيغا والبحر الأبيض
يحتوي هذا الموقع على 4500 نقش صخري حُفرت خلال العصر الحجري الحديث، ويعود تاريخها إلى 6 آلاف أو 7 آلاف عام مضى، وهي تقع في جمهورية كاريليا في الاتحاد الروسي، وهو أحد أكبر المواقع الموجودة في أوروبا للنقوش الصخرية التي توثِّق الثقافة التي سادت في حقبة العصر الحجري الحديث في منطقة فينوسكانديا. وتتضمن هذه الممتلكات المتسلسلة 33 موقعاً مقسمة على جزئين يفصل بينهما 300 كم، حيث يوجد في الجزء الأول 22 نقشاً صخرياً تصوِّر أكثر من 1200 شكل، وهي موجودة في حوض بحيرة أونيغا في مقاطعة بودوزكي، ويضمُّ الجزء الثاني 11 موقعاً تتألف من 3411 شكلاً، وهي موجودة في حوض البحر الأبيض في مقاطعة بلومورسكي. وغالباً ما يمثِّل فن النقش على الصخور في حوض بحيرة أونيغا أشكال الطيور والحيوانات وأشكالاً يكون نصفها إنسان ونصفها الآخر حيوان، إلى جانب أشكال هندسية قد ترمز إلى القمر والشمس. وأما النقوش الصخرية في حوض البحر الأبيض، فغالباً ما تكون منحوتات تمثِّل مشاهد الصيد والملاحة والمعدات المتعلقة بهذين النشاطين، كما تصوِّر آثار أقدام البشر والحيوانات، وهي تتمتع بمزايا فنية وتشهد على الإبداع خلال العصر الحجري. وترتبط النقوش الصخرية بمواقع تتضمن مستوطنات ومدافن.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
奥 涅加湖 和白 海 的 岩 刻
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Петроглифы Онежского озера и Белого моря
На территории этого объекта находится 4500 петроглифов, вырезанных в скалах в период неолита 6-7 тысяч лет назад и расположенных в Республике Карелия в Российской Федерации. Это один из крупнейших подобных памятников в Европе с петроглифами, документирующими культуру неолита в Фенноскандии. Серийный объект включает 33 памятника в двух составных частях на расстоянии 300 км друг от друга: 22 объекта с петроглифами на Онежском озере в Пудожском районе, на которых в общей сложности представлено более 1200 рисунков, и 3411 рисунков на 11 объектах на берегу Белого моря в Беломорском районе. Наскальные рисунки на Онежском озере в основном изображают птиц, животных, фигуры полулюдей и полуживотных, а также геометрические фигуры, которые могут символизировать луну и солнце. Петроглифы Белого моря в основном состоят из рисунков, изображающих сцены охоты и мореплавания, включая соответствующее оборудование, а также следы животных и людей. Они демонстрируют значительные художественные качества и свидетельствуют о творчестве каменного века. Петроглифы связаны с различными местами, включая поселения и захоронения.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Petroglifos del Lago Onega y del mar Blanco
El sitio contiene 4.500 petroglifos tallados en las rocas durante el Neolítico, datados hace entre 6 y 7 mil años, y está situado en la República de Carelia, en la Federación de Rusia. Es uno de los mayores yacimientos de este tipo de Europa con petroglifos que documentan la cultura neolítica en Fennoscandia. El sitio en serie comprende 33 yacimientos en dos partes separadas por 300 km: 22 yacimientos de petroglifos en el lago Onega, en el distrito de Pudozhsky, con un total de más de 1.200 figuras, y 3.411 figuras en 11 yacimientos junto al mar Blanco, en el distrito de Belomorsky. Las figuras de arte rupestre del lago Onega representan en su mayoría aves, animales, figuras mitad humanas y mitad animales, así como formas geométricas que pueden ser símbolos del sol y de la luna. Los petroglifos del mar Blanco se componen en su mayoría de tallas que representan escenas de caza y navegación, incluyendo su equipo correspondiente, así como huellas de animales y humanos. Muestran importantes cualidades artísticas y atestiguan la creatividad de la Edad de Piedra. Los petroglifos están asociados a lugares como asentamientos y puntos de enterramiento.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
The Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea are situated in the north-west of Russia in the Republic of Karelia and contain two component parts located 300 km from each other. The petroglyphs of Lake Onega are in the south-eastern part of the Republic of Karelia and those of the White Sea are in the north-eastern part.
The petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea represent one of the largest independent centres of Neolithic rock art in Europe, dating to between circa 4,500 BCE to 3,500 BCE. The property comprises a total of over 4,500 petroglyphs concentrated in 33 sites within two component parts, including a total of 22 sites at Lake Onega and 11 located at the White Sea. The petroglyphs are also associated with more than 100 archaeological sites including settlements, camp sites and one burial ground dated as contemporary with the rock art.
The rock art at Lake Onega represents animals (birds, forest animals), humans and anthropomorphs interpreted as demons, as well as geometric (solar and lunar) signs while the petroglyphs of the White Sea are mostly composed of carvings like depicted boats, sea and forest hunting scenes including their related equipment as well as animal and human footprints.
The emergence of the petroglyphs dates back to the Neolithic era — along with associated archaeological sites, including settlements and burial ground, witnessing the culture of hunter-fisher-gatherers in the North of Europe. The petroglyphs attest to the beliefs and lifestyle of the hunter-fisher-gatherers over a period of 600-800 years, speak of the advanced development of this culture that used these rock art centres as meeting places and show significant artistic qualities and creativity of the Stone Age artists.
There are clear similarities between the rock art of Lake Onega and the White Sea especially in the rock carving technique, rock art compositions, in the scenes depicted and their style, as well as in the sites chosen for carving horizontal motifs on the rock panels. They were produced by the population of the same Neolithic culture; excavated archaeological material proves that part of the Pit-Comb Ware population of Lake Onega gradually migrated to the White Sea by water routes.
The Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea contain representations of waterfowl including mainly realistic and fantastic swans that are unique in the rock art of Northern Fennoscandia and in Europe and were identified as one of the earliest illustrations of the rock carvings in the region.
Criterion (iii): The Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea and the related archaeological sites are an exceptional testimony of the lifestyle and beliefs of the Pit-Comb Ware culture population in the Neolithic, providing a unique source of data and representing a coherent image of the Neolithic culture period in the northeastern part of Fennoscandia.
Integrity
Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea include preserved representations of Neolithic rock art almost in their natural landscape. The component parts and their buffer zones are of an adequate size to guarantee a comprehensive illustration of the Outstanding Universal Value. Common or close themes in both components of the property demonstrate mutual influence as well as chronological closeness and complementarity in illustrating the northern Neolithic period in an exceptional manner. Cultural layers from the Mesolithic period up to Middle Ages are preserved in the vicinity of the petroglyphs.
The boundaries of the property have been established according to the legal framework in place in the Russian Federation and interdisciplinary research and include archaeological sites that contribute to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.
The rock art carvings are well-preserved, and, at Lake Onega, their setting has survived almost untouched, which is crucial for the understanding and appreciation of the property. The buffer zones include archaeological heritage and sites associated with the rock art area within the property, which contribute to the understanding of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.
Authenticity
The authenticity of the Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea relies on the exceptional character of the petroglyphs testifying to the lifestyle and beliefs of the Neolithic cultures present in Northern Europe.
On one hand, Lake Onega landscape has neither been affected by major changes nor by human activities since the Neolithic period. The preserved surroundings of the rock art sites at Lake Onega facilitate an understanding of the prehistoric setting and context of the rock art, particularly its location at the lake shoreline, and the connection it makes with different elements of the landscape. On the other hand, the landscape of the rock carvings at the White Sea has been partly altered due to land uplift, the White Sea Canal, two hydroelectric stations, and connected dams.
Protection and management requirements
The first level of protection is the territory of the property (Federal Law No. 73-FZ and Regional Law No. ZRK-883): the Russian legislation establishes for each component part. Its territory ensures conservation of the property. Two types of actions are allowed: conservation of the property components and scientific research. Federal Law No. 73-FZ represents the main legal instrument governing the process of preservation of historical and cultural heritage in the Russian Federation. At the regional level, the Law of the Republic of Karelia dated 06.06.2005 (ZRK-883) regulates the conservation, development, promotion, and state protection of the cultural heritage sites of the peoples of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Karelia.
The second level of protection is the property protection zone (orders issued by the Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Karelia No. 518-r of 05.09.1996 and 163.03-r of 25.03.1998). These zones protect both rock art sites and all other associated archaeological sites as well as the surrounding landscape. The third level of protection is the regional protected area, i.e., the Muromsky Landscape Reserve. The final level of protection is applied to lands of historical and cultural value: all economic activities may be prohibited therein as well as on lands with the property and archaeological sites that are the subject of research and conservation, in accordance with the Land Code of the Russian Federation.
The boundaries of the protected zones at Lake Onega and the White Sea outlining the natural and cultural heritage related to the petroglyphs were delimited and approved in the 1990s. The additional protection is provided by establishing two sites of Federal Value for the components of the World Heritage property covering the property and buffer zone areas. The overall protection system is designed to ensure the effective protection of qualities of the surrounding landscape and of the archaeological sites located therein, which is essential for the long-term preservation of the authenticity and integrity of the property.
The Department for the Cultural Heritage Protection of the Republic of Karelia has established the State Rock Art Centre of the Republic of Karelia for the management of the property in the territories of the component parts.
The existence of a single authority for the management of petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea is crucial to ensure the coordinated management of two component parts of the property. The Rock Art Centre of the Republic of Karelia has been established in Petrozavodsk in order to preserve, study and popularize both components of the World Heritage property.
A conservation plan of the property and a program of integrated monitoring of rock art sites were developed by employees of this institution and academic scientists and approved by the Coordinating Council for the Management of the World Heritage Site that ensures the preservation and monitoring of the attributes of the property. The Coordinating Council and the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the Republic of Karelia are responsible for coordinating work with communities, the private sector, experts and scientists, federal, regional and local authorities.
