17 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

A Monument complex and inscription belonging to Ilteris Kutlug Kagan, the founder of the Eastern Göktürk Khanate, were found

A Turkish inscription of İlteriş Kutlug Kağan was found during the joint scientific archaeological expedition of the International Turkic Academy and the Mongolian Archeology Institute in the Nomgon valley in the Arkhangai region of Mongolia.

Ilteris Kutlug Kagan is the founder of the Eastern Gokturk Khanate in 682.

An important discovery in the field of Turkology has been made at Hangai Jote in Mongolia’s Otuken region: a monument complex and a new inscription of Ilterish Kutlug Kagan.

The inscription found in a joint scientific archaeological expedition of the International Turkic Academy and the Mongolian Archaeological Institute in the Nomgon Valley is written in Turkic and Sogdian languages.

Photo: International Turkic Academy

The discovery was announced by International Turkic Academy President Darhan Kidırali on his social media account on Tuesday. The Turkic Academy held a special press conference in Ulan Bator regarding the discovery.

At the press conference, Darhan Kidirali said, “Today I want to share the good news with you. As a result of this year’s expedition, a monument complex and inscription dedicated to Ilteris Kutlug Kagan, the father of Kultegin and Bilge Kagan, who revived the Khanate, was found. I would like to point out that it is the oldest written monument where the name “Turkish” is mentioned for the first time in a valuable relic of the Turkish period,” he said.

However, G. Eregzen, Director of the Archeology History Institute of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, reported on the results of the scientific archaeological expedition in the Nomgon Plain.

The total area of the complex is 49×41.5 m. A ditch was dug around the complex, which is located in an oval shape from west to east, and a castle was built by piling up soil from there.

Altar. Photo: International Turkic Academy

On the west side of the complex, there is a stone cube with a hole (altar) in the middle, stone human figures, a lion statue with two cubs, and two sheep statues. There are 51 balbal stone (Kurgan stelae) protrusions to the east of the gate of the complex. Of these, the “tauteke” symbol belonging to the Ashina family was identified from five balbals.

At the same time, the excavation of clay pavement and brick remains laid on the path shows that there was a baruk (place of worship) inside the complex.

The upper part of the inscription monument and the turtle stand was found in front of the Baruk. The old Turkish Bitik inscription consisting of 12 lines was engraved on both sides of the valuable object, and the old Sogdian script was engraved on the third side.

Photo: International Turkic Academy

Scientists participating in the expedition identified words from the text of the monument, such as “Tanrı” (God), “Turk”, “Kutlyk”, and “Tumen”. Based on the information obtained from the inscription text, it was concluded that the Nomgon complex was dedicated to  Ilterish Kutlug Kagan, the father of Kultegin and Bilge Kagan, who revived the Khaganate. In addition, Bitiktaş is considered to be the oldest written monument of the Turkish period, where the name “Turk” was mentioned for the first time.

In general, the Nomgon ritual complex is similar to the Bilge Kagan and Kultegin ritual complexes in all its features. On the top of the Nomgon inscribed monument, two dragon-shaped wolf heads are depicted with the body facing down. It is known that such Khagan attributes – a dragon-shaped, wolf-headed symbol – were carved on the top of Taşpar Kağan, Bilge, Kültegin, and other monuments. The Nomgon inscription is considered an important monument at the state level, as are the Orkhon monuments.

The Academy will also develop a scientific collection dedicated to the results of the Nomgon scientific expedition and present it in the capitals of the Turkic states.

Ilteris Kutlug Kagan inscription
Ilteris Kutlug Kagan inscription

Historically significant

The Orkhon inscriptions, which were found in the late 19th century, are memorial installations — an important source for the understanding of the origin of the Turks, their history, culture and their relations with other Turkic tribes.

Turkic inscriptions with runic letters are the oldest known written Turkic works. In addition, the inscriptions were written in the first known Turkic alphabet.

They were erected in honour of two Turkic princes, Kul Tigin and Bilge Kagan. The Kul Tigin inscription was erected by his brother Bilge Kagan, and the Bilge Kagan inscription was erected by his son. The third inscription was erected in the name of Bilge Tonyukuk, a political figure. These three inscriptions make up the Orkhon inscriptions.

The monument complex and inscription found at Hangai Jote is of Kul Tigin and Bilge Kagan’s father, Ilterish Kutlug Kagan.

Related Articles

Lost sketches by Leonardo Da Vinci show that he understood gravity long before Newton

19 February 2023

19 February 2023

Leonardo da Vinci’s centuries-old sketches show that he may have understood key aspects of gravity long before Galileo, Newton, and...

Archaeologists Discovered a New Pyramid Resembling Teotihuacán in Tikal

17 April 2021

17 April 2021

Researchers discovered a new pyramid complex in the Tikal in Guatemala. About 65 km south of El Mirador in the...

Rare 3,500-Year-Old Chariot Wheel Discovered at Inverness Golf Course

24 April 2025

24 April 2025

Archaeologists have discovered a rare prehistoric chariot wheel at the site of a future golf course near Inverness. The discovery...

Iron Age Children’s a Unique Funerary Building Discovered in Oman

3 March 2024

3 March 2024

Archaeologists have uncovered a unique Iron Age children’s funerary building at the Manaqi archaeological site in Rustaq, South Al Batinah...

3,400-Year-Old Jade and Stone Workshop Site Discovered at Sanxingdui Ruins

26 July 2024

26 July 2024

Archaeologists have uncovered a jade and stone processing site that dates back over 3,400 years at the Sanxingdui Ruins in...

Unique Heart-Shaped Jesuit Ring from 1700s at Fort St Joseph, Michigan

18 September 2022

18 September 2022

An archeology student from the Fort St. Joseph Archeology project at Western Michigan University has uncovered a unique heart-shaped Jesuit...

Ancient City Cistern Found Near Croatia’s Iconic Fountain

15 February 2024

15 February 2024

An island-speckled coastline and ancient walled towns place Croatia among the world’s best-beauty cities. But there’s even more to this...

21 Copperplate Inscriptions discovered at Ghanta Matham in India

14 June 2021

14 June 2021

During excavations at Ghanta Matham in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh,  important 21 copper plates for the Mallikarjuna Swami...

New Moai statue discovered on Easter Island

1 March 2023

1 March 2023

A new Moai statue has been discovered on Rapa Nui, a Chilean territory known as Easter Island. The sacred monument,...

Stonehenge’s Altar Stone May Be From Scotland, Over 700 Kilometers Away

14 August 2024

14 August 2024

Recent research led by Curtin University suggests that the Altar Stone at Stonehenge may have originated in northeast Scotland, at...

A 1700-year-old Roman water tunnel dug into the mountain was discovered in Adıyaman province in southeastern Türkiye

13 September 2023

13 September 2023

It was revealed that in the Besni district of Adıyaman province, located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, the...

A farmer picking up ‘trash’ in field in Norway discovered a rare Viking Sword

1 June 2024

1 June 2024

A farmer and his son found a rare Viking sword on his family farm in Suldal, Norway. Archaeologists say this...

Rare Five Bronze Age Axes found in the Forests of Poland

5 December 2023

5 December 2023

Archaeologists in Poland have discovered five Bronze Age axes in Starogard Forest District, located in Kociewie. A metal detectorist named...

Archaeologists uncovered a 3,500-year-old Egyptian Royal Retreat in the Sinai Desert

5 May 2024

5 May 2024

An Egyptian mission uncovered the ruins of a 3,500-year-old “royal fortified rest area” at the Tel Habwa archaeological site in...

The earliest human remains 11,000-year-old discovered in northern Britain

25 January 2023

25 January 2023

An international team of archaeologists at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has discovered 11,000-year-old human remains in the Heaning...