QUTLUG KHAGAN MONUMENTAL COMPLEX AND WRITTEN INSCRIPTION

Abstract

The Joint Staff of the International Turkic Academy and the Institute of Archeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences carried out excavations in 2019 and 2022 in the Nomgon valley of the Khashat Sum region of the Arkhangai region of Mongolia and made archaeological discoveries in nine complexes of monuments of the ancient Turkic period. It is believed that the monument complex, which appeared during the excavations in the “Nomgon – 2” complex, was formed in honor of the founder of the Second Eastern Gokturk Khaganate, who ruled in 682-692, Ilterish Khagan (Qutluq Khagan), the father of Bilge Khagan and Kultigi.

During the excavation works, various finds such as the head and lower part of a statue in the form of a Khagan, two rams, a statue of a lion made together with their cubs, roof tiles, bricks, sunag stone with a hole in the middle and the stigma of the “Ashir” (Ashina) Khagan generation were revealed from the monument complex. The main feature of this discovery, which makes it important for Turkology world, is a piece of written monument found from the excavation site. This is significant in that it is the first inscription found in studies carried out in the region. Two wolves and lotus-shaped flowers are depicted at the top of the inscription. Texts in the inscription were written in three different languages - old Turkish, Sogdian and Brahmi. The turtle statue, which is understood to be the pedestal of the monument, is also among the finds