Composition with two horses in Scythian style, early Iron Age (approximately 700-100 BC), Sarmishsai, Uzbekistan. Photo: Anne-Sophie Hygen © Anne-Sophie Hygen/Riksantikvaren

Central-Asia has large concentrations of rock art, and a major effort is underway to improve local management and accessibility to the sites. Norway contributes to a UNESCO-organised project to support a joint nomination of rock art areas to the World Heritage List from the five Central Asian countries.

Since 2003 the Directorate has cooperated with relevant Uzbek organisations to strengthen the management, conservation and presentation of a large area at Sarmishsai in Uzbekistan. The area contains historical buildings, monuments and sites from the Stone Age until the time of the Second World War. These include settlements, burial sites, religious sacrificial sites and not least a large number of rock carvings. A management plan for the area has been developed within the project, and tourism facilities have been improved. Uzbek authorities are currently working on the nomination of Sarmishsai to the World Heritage List.

The project was completed September 2010.