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Journal of Sistan and Baluchistan Studies

Journal of Sistan and Baluchistan Studies

Beyond Visibility: DStretch-Based Digital Analysis of Rock Art at Sepantash, Uzbekistan

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors
1 Samarkand State Architecture and Construction University
2 Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages
3 "Silk Road" International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Department of History and Cultural Heritage
4 Tashkent State University of Economics
10.22034/jsbs.2026.579980.1145
Abstract
Over the past few decades, archaeological research in Uzbekistan has led to the identification of more than 200 rock art sites. However, the studies conducted so far have been mainly limited to site identification, iconographic analysis, and relative dating, with little emphasis on in-depth analytical approaches and the application of modern scientific methods. In this context, the use of advanced technologies in digital documentation, image processing, and absolute dating plays a critical role in advancing the quality of rock art research. These approaches not only allow for higher-resolution recording of the motifs, but also help reveal details that are not visible due to erosion. This is particularly important given that rock art heritage is facing significant destruction and fading due to natural weathering and anthropogenic impacts and requires urgent conservation measures. Accordingly, the present article aims to document, interpret, and analyze rock art discovered at the Sepantash site near the village of Koruksoy in the Kashkadrya region. In this research, modern tools such as DStretch have been used to enhance and reveal faded motifs. The results show that the use of this technology allows for more precise identification of visual features and provides more reliable data for subsequent analysis. Both pictographs and petroglyphs have been identified at the site. The pictographs were drawn using red and black pigments. Digital analysis also showed that a significant part of the visual data can only be identified through image processing, and the overlapping motifs and color differences confirm the existence of several temporal stages in the formation of these works. This research emphasizes the importance of using modern technologies in the documentation and analysis of rock art and highlights Sepantash as a significant case study for reconsidering symbolic systems in Central Asian rock art traditions.
Keywords


Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 10 June 2026

  • Receive Date 29 April 2026
  • Revise Date 10 June 2026
  • Accept Date 10 June 2026
  • Publish Date 10 June 2026