[expand]The upright stone slabs created vertical monuments. The quarried or selected stones were shaped into roughly rectangular forms then erected vertically, the standing position maximizing visibility across steppe’s flat terrain. The heights varied from modest markers barely exceeding human height to impressive monuments reaching several meters, the size variation reflecting deceased’s status and family’s resources. The vertical orientation was practical—horizontal stones would be obscured by grass, upright monuments remained visible—and symbolic—the vertical axis connected earth to sky creating cosmic link.
The carved surfaces received varied decorative treatment. The relief carving created three-dimensional images projecting from stone surface, the raised figures catching light creating shadows enhancing visibility. The incised lines cut into stone created two-dimensional drawings, the linear technique allowing detailed compositions impossible in relief. The combination of carving techniques created complex decorated surfaces where different image types coexisted creating rich visual fields.
The unworked reverse sides remained plain. The stelae were meant for frontal viewing—the decorated face oriented toward approaching travelers or camp locations while back remained uncarved. The viewing-oriented decoration demonstrated pragmatic approach—carving labor concentrated on visible surface while hidden side received minimal attention. The directional orientation positioned stelae as communicative objects addressing specific audiences.
The weathering gradually degraded details. The exposed stone surfaces eroded through wind abrasion, rain dissolution, and temperature cycling, the carved details becoming less distinct over centuries. The weathering was accepted cost of permanence—the monuments would endure but not unchanged, the gradual decay being natural consequence of material persistence. The eroded stelae testified to time’s passage while maintaining presence marking burial locations.
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