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Part 1 Pakistan to Pentre Ifan – The Ancient Karakoram Stones

Pakistan to Pentre Ifan Part 1:- The Ancient Karakoram Stones
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A. High in the Karakoram Mountains.
A. High in the Karakoram Mountains.
The palest pink apricot blossom filled the air with a delicate scent against the snow-capped mountains.
B. A valley full of apricot blossom
B. A valley full of apricot blossom
It was Springtime and the Indus Valley was smothered in apricot blossom.
Orientation: 1
C. The vivid colours of nature drying in the sunshine.
C. The vivid colours of nature drying in the sunshine.
Local women spin, dye and weave goat and sheep wool, making exquisite carpets and embroideries.
D. Ancient Altit, way above the Indus.
D. Ancient Altit, way above the Indus.
Looking down from 4,000 feet.
E. Setting out to the roof of the world.
E. Setting out to the roof of the world.
Up the Karakoram highway, through tunnels in glaciers, landslides and waterfalls.
F. The Highest mountains and the ancient fort
F. The Highest mountains and the ancient fort
The 10,000 year old Baltit Fort is just below the centre.
G. Sacred Rocks
G. Sacred Rocks
We stopped at this sacred site, miles from anywhere.
H. Rocky Outcrops
H. Rocky Outcrops
High up in the mountains, we saw strange rocky outcrops.
I. Ancient Petroglyphs
I. Ancient Petroglyphs
Huge boulders covered with engravings in the rock.
J. Ancient Animals
J. Ancient Animals
Ibexes, horses and the occasional human figure.
K. Copying the carvings.
K. Copying the carvings.
I got out my sketchbook and drew – here is a hunting scene
L. Animal carvings.
L. Animal carvings.
Here some animals grazing.
N. Ancient humans
N. Ancient humans
A man and a woman carved on their own. T
O. Moved by the petroglyphs
O. Moved by the petroglyphs
When I came back I took some of my drawings and carved them into lino.
Camera: HP Scanjet G4010