Study of petroglyphs on the Pegtymel river in 2022

The Pegtymel petroglyphs are Asian northernmost rock art site located beyond the Arctic Circle on the right bank of the Pegtymel River in Northwestern Chukotka 40-50 km from the coast of the East Siberian Sea. The site was discovered in 1965 by geologist N. M. Samorukov. The scholarly discovery and first publication of the site is associated with the name of the archaeologist N.N. Dikov. Expeditions also worked on the petroglyphs of Pegtymel in the 1990-2000s. Documentation and monitoring of this site resumed in 2021 after a decade-long break. In 2022, the Petroglyphic Team of the Institute of Archaeology of the RAS continued to inspect and redocument the site. Works at the site involved mapping its vicinity and digital documenting of surfaces with petroglyphs using the 3D modeling method. In addition to acquiring data for 3D documentation, the petroglyphs were photographed for monitoring with special focus on endangered surfaces. As a result, it is now possible to make comparisons with the previously published data on the state ofpreservation, and identify deterioration, damage, and fragment loss of the petroglyphs. During the expedition, some previously unknown petroglyphs were discovered and recorded. Thanks to the use of modern approaches in documentation (three-dimensional modeling, aerial photography, geodetic measurements), the authors of this work have managed to take a fresh look at the already sufficiently well-studied site. The experience of studying the location of the Pegtymel petroglyphs once again shows the need for redocumentation of the rock art sites.