Use of social network data for monitoring the rock art site of Sikachi-Alyan (Khabarovsk region, Russia)

Many open-air rock art sites are not restricted for visiting. It increases the probability of petroglyphs and drawings being damaged and requires permanent monitoring of their preservation conditions. The paper describes a new approach to the site monitoring and analysis of visitors' activity through users' content in the Instagram taking rock art site of the Sikachi-Alyan Petroglyphs as a case study. The dataset contains 1,500 images grouped by date and boulder numerical number covering the timeline from 2016 to 2020. The information obtained was used to build a curve of the site visits by days, identify main itineraries by station 1 and station 2, trace changes over time in the water level in the Amur river, and monitor preservation conditions of several boulders taking into account climatological data. The analysis shows that there are several ‘attraction points' that appear on the photographs most frequently. These are not only boulders with eye-catching and easily identifiable images but also information boards and stele. The site is visited throughout the year. The proposed monitoring approach can be applied at each and every open-air site visited by many people. It will help monitor information on preservation conditions and number of visits to the site and make decisions on necessary safeguard and conservation measures.