Публикации автора

The article is devoted of the new findings of rock art in the Arctic region and their supposed connection with the ancient cultures of Fennoscandia. The petroglyphs were first discovered and studied by the author on the sacred island of Vaygach in the southwestern Arctic. The fact of discovering petroglyphs during the expedition confirmed two hypothesis that we had previously put forward: 1) the presence of monuments of ancient rock art on the sacred island of Vaygach, as such; 2) the location, in some cases, of petroglyphs in close proximity to existing Nenets sanctuaries and temples, including those in which sacrificial rituals systematically occur. The results of the study of petroglyphs may indirectly indicate both the sacred veneration of the island of Vaygach and the sacralization of the image of the deer, not only in the Middle Ages, but also in the earlier historical periods. The study highlights the role of the role of the island as a “sacred crossroads of civilizations” of the “sea” and “land”. The purpose of the research work is to introduce a new monument into scientific circulation; description of the first identified rock art samples on a new unique geographical object; conducting the most exhaustive research, followed by embedding the results into the general context of the historiography of the southwestern Arctic; identifying evidence confirming contacts between the island of Vaygach and Fennoscandia in ancient times; justification of the need for further expeditions to discover, study and preserve the ancient historical and cultural heritage of the Arctic region