Memorial Museum Nature reserve Showplace

Museum of Rock Art “Petroglyphs Kanozero”

July 5, 1997 during the rafting on the river Umba expedition organized Revdinsky local history museum, one of the participants – Yuri Ivanov, on the island of Stone, opened the first rock drawings – petroglyphs. This discovery gave a countdown sequence of events, which in turn led to the creation of the museum of rock art “Petroglyphs Kanozero”.

Since 1999 Kanozero starts Kola archaeological expedition under the leadership of Vladimir Shumkina. According to the results of work in 1999 the first petroglyphs plans were made at that time was known about 400 figures in 16 groups. The result of the expedition during the previous year from 1999-2002, 2005, 2007 and 2008 was the opening of more than 1,000 images in 18 groups.

The participants of the expedition made a number of scientific publications, presentations at international conferences and congresses. After the discovery in the course of studying petroglyphs, there was a question of protection. Since parallel with the computerization of society about the unique and of great significance for science and the history of rock art petroglyphs increasing interest from tourists. The increase in anthropogenic load and uncontrolled visits to the islands adversely affect the state of the petroglyphs, some of the images have already been disfigured by modern inscriptions.

In order to protect the petroglyphs from vandals and improve the ecological situation in the islands ecological camps have been repeatedly held by both the Kirov and the Terek areas, as well as various hiking volunteers Kola Biodiversity Conservation Center. Kirov History Museum was introduced rate warden, guards the islands in the summer time engaged Stanislav Vereschagin. But all these efforts did not bring the desired result. Islands most of the time remained without supervision, and some tourists, not paying attention to all warning signs and prohibition signs, broken parking on the islands, cut down trees, trampled vegetation, but most importantly, consciously or not, cause damage by the petroglyphs. Many tourists do not get the desired excursions, trying to figure the vague outlines of rock art. The need for a special institution with a staff of employees who will deal directly with the protection of rock art complex, as well as sightseeing activities is long overdue. Moreover, there is a need for trips, not only for tourists – conductors, which pass in transit Kanozero, rafting on the river Umba, but also groups of tourists who want to visit the island specifically with petroglyphs.

At all sites, included in the complex of rock carvings “Petroglyphs Kanozero”, namely: Lone Rock, Stone Island, Spruce Island and Burnt Island, the monument protection act mode. Parking, fires, within the complex, is strictly prohibited. Please plan on passing Kanozero in advance, taking into account the above facts. For advice on excursion maintenance and other issues related to the visit to the island, please contact the museum.

At this point in the complex of rock art “PETROGLYPHS Kanozero” includes: continental cliff lonely and three islands. Island “Stone” (aka Rocky)
Island “Spruce” and the island of “Burnt” (the latter two islands are part of a group of islands and Muna also have the name of Muna Small – Large Spruce and Muna – Burnt).