Ankara Araştırmaları Dergisi (Jul 2022)
The Petroglyphs of Yandaklıdere
Abstract
Rock Art have been studied by scientists in various research institutions for many years, and studies on this subject, as well as the publishing of papers, have occurred in Türkiye in recent years. The Yandaklıdere petroglyphs that can be found within the borders of Çağa village in the Güdül district of Ankara, constitute the main theme of the study. While the Yandaklıdere petroglyphs have been mentioned in other publications, no scale drawings and individual explanations of the depictions in the petroglyphs are available, and current comparative evaluations of the inscriptions are also limited. This study serves to address that lack with scale drawings of the panels and depictions of the Yandaklıdere petroglyphs. Necessary explanations for identifying the figures are provided by assigning a unique number to each figure. Relevant explanations of the character of the figures are also included in the text. Depictions of similar forms and body shapes are examined under the following categories: Shamans, Riders, Horses, Goats, Deers, Plants/Trees, Nets/Cages/ Traps, Tamgas and Inscriptions. Depictions which are not in these groups are included in the category of Unidentified Depictions. Other examples similar to the Yandaklıdere petroglyphs were first looked for in Central Asia, then in regions where Turkish tribes migrated, and finally in Türkiye. Yandaklıdere petroglyphs, such as the petroglyphs with period names such as Proto-Turk, Saka, Hun, Taştik, Göktürk, Akhun, etc. in the geography of Central Asia, were also examined, and yielded data that indicated that the Turks were very early arrivals in Anatolia. Techniques used in the drawings are presented, as well as their estimated production dates, and the study also examines findings that show that the Turks continued their rock drawing traditions under Shamanism and Tengrism by discussing the meaning of petroglyphs for Turkish tribes separately for each depiction. As a result of these examinations, which contain examples from possibly the Bronze or Iron Age, it can be seen that the petroglyphs were made by using pecking and engraving techniques. It is suggested that the petroglyphs were made in different periods, but mainly in the Middle Ages. These dating suggestions, based on similar examples, are also explained in the study within the chronicles and the illustrated examples included in the depictions.
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