The Republic of Tuva is considered to be the center of stone carving in Russia, where the school of master stone carvers emerged much earlier than the Ural school. Stone carving in Tuva originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but stone artifacts have been crafted for centuries. Carved agalmatolite figurines have been discovered during archaeological excavations. The ancient Turks and Uyghurs who lived in Tuva created stone sculptures, which may have laid the foundation for the development of stone carving. The masters use agalmatolite, which allows them to create delicate and exquisite sculptures. The locals call this stone "chonar-dash," which means "a stone that can be carved." There are only a few agalmatolite deposits in the world, and in Russia, it is mined in Tuva, specifically in the Bay-Taiga district. Near the deposit, there is a small village called Kyzyl-Dag, which is famous for being the birthplace of over 40 renowned stone carvers. Thanks to the skill of the stonecutters, the stones are turned into a variety of products, such as chess pieces, toys, religious attributes, and sculptures of wild animals and famous personalities. These figurines depict Tuvan people in traditional clothing, as well as horses, camels, mountain sheep, and goats. The agalmatolite products are striking in their beauty, especially the figures of wild animals captured in motion. Stone carving is another "calling card" of Tuva, along with throat singing.