The magnificent Uklykaya rock is a cataclasis of the front range of the Ural Mountains. This is a well- studied geological section of the same name. The rock is widely known among Bashkortostan citizens. The name of the rock (Bash. - Arrow Rock) originates to an ancient sanctuary that used to be laying on the rock's western slope at the turn of I and II millenium AD. S.R. Mintslov, a sheriff who visited this place in 1911, wrote, Duvan-Tabyn Volost has a little Bashkir village Tash-Asty stretching through a spectacular ravine. There the wide blue Zilim river is taking its source, and the tremendous Uklogaya Mount is towering over it. In its debris you can sometimes find iron arrowheads and human bones.
In 1997 the sanctuary was examined by archaeologists from the Russian Academy of Science (Ufa). The exploratory excavation site of 16 sq.m. revealed 5 iron arrowheads. It was established that the mount was being shot at from the river. These heads, as the majority of the others (a few hundreds) were used at the sanctuary. They were not meant for hunting but for fighting. The analysis of the findings show that the western slope started to be used as a sanctuary in 8-9 century by Karayakupovo culture people.
The major lifetime of the sanctuary stretches from the 10 - early 13 century (Chiyalek culture). This was before the Mongol conquering the Eastern Europe. Karayakupovo and Chiyalek culture people have Ugric (Transural) origin. This nation then dissolved in Bashkirs. The items most alike to these arrowheads originate from the Volga Bulgary. The mount sacred and ritual function was ceased in 13-14 century. This might have been related to the Bashkirs adopting Islam. This forced the pagan ritual practice to end.
Archaeological and ethnographic materials show how widely the belief in the spirit of the mounting had spread among the Ural people. The spirit was considered the original ancestor, the mount was considered the centre of the family and tribe territory. A range of rocks and caveswith equal cult functions were found in the Middle Urals. The name Uklykaya and its derivatives are known in various regions of Bashkortostan.
The material was prepared jointly with the Institute of History, Language and Literature of the Ufa (Order of the Badge of Honor) Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)
