Astronomical signs in the Onega petroglyphs: classificaiton and context

The article presents the findings from a study of the figures and symbols found in the Onega petroglyphs, which researchers interpret as representations of celestial bodies. These figures, varying in shape (many of which have uncertain semantic meanings), constitute the second largest group of images on the rocks of Lake Onega, following ornithomorphs. This underscores their significant role in understanding the unique aspects of this petroglyphic sanctuary and in reconstructing the cosmogonic beliefs of the ancient population of Northern Europe. To analyze the morphological characteristics and classification of these astronomical signs, there were conducted planographic studies of compositions featuring the signs and examined the spatial orientation of figures within specific clusters of ancient engravings. The research has demonstrated that the vast majority of associations, including palimpsests, of astronomical signs with other images (such as a migratory bird, a hornless moose, and an anthropomorph) in the Onega petroglyphs are deliberate compositions created by ancient peoples according to a certain plan. The findings presented in this article indicate that the tradition of inscribing astronomical pictograms on the rocks of the Onega sanctuary had been in place for a considerable period. The study also revealed a correlation between the orientation of these symbolic figures and specific points on the horizon, which confirms their astronomical nature.