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Balbal is a name given to Turkic statues also described as obelisks or stelae dating back to 6th century. Balbal statues are mostly distributed in the vast lands and steppes of Central Asia Mongolia Tuva Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Caucasuses and Anatolia regions to name a few. Most commonly they are depicted as male figures from 70cms to three meters in height holding a bird flower bowl dagger or a sword nevertheless female figures are not uncommon. They are believed to be memorials to the honored dead even though their function is still not completely understood.