A joint Mongolian-German archaeological mission has discovered a unique ceremonial platform in the Altai range that appears to be one of the oldest solar observatories in Central Asia. The structure, composed of concentric stone rings and a central monolithic pillar, is perfectly aligned to the summer solstice sunrise and features carvings of the 'Sun-Deer' motif common to the Karasuk culture.
Excavations at the base of the pillar yielded sacrificial bronze daggers and gold foil ornaments shaped like solar discs. The altar’s placement on a high-altitude ridge suggests it was used by nomadic groups for seasonal gatherings and astronomical calculations, predating the rise of the Xiongnu Empire by several centuries.
The site also contains petroglyphs of celestial chariots and stellar constellations, providing a rare glimpse into the cosmological beliefs of Bronze Age steppe dwellers. Archaeologists believe the altar served as a regional 'time-keeping' center that coordinated the migrations of pastoralist communities across the vast Siberian-Mongolian borderlands.