Türkiye welcomes archaeological discovery in Mongolia

By Seda Sevencan and Behlul Cetinkaya

ISTANBUL (AA) – Türkiye on Wednesday welcomed the discovery of a monument complex in Mongolia that is believed to belong to the founder of the second Gokturk Khaganate.

“The news that the monument complex, which is considered to belong to Kutluk Ilterish Khagan, the founder of the second Gokturk Khaganate, was discovered as a result of the excavations carried out in the Nomgon region, where the historical Otuken is also located, in Mongolia, by the Turkic Academy in Nur-Sultan, one of the components of the Organization of Turkic States, together with the Mongolian Archaeological Institute, has been received with excitement and pleasure,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“This is the third important discovery within the geography of Mongolia after the Orkhon Inscriptions (Kul Tigin and Bilge Khagan) and Bilge Tonyukuk Inscriptions found in 1889 and 1897, respectively,” it added.

It further said that this recent discovery, being a sign of Turkish-Mongolian cooperation, is a significant turning point for Turkish history and is also a new monument added to the cultural richness of Mongolia.

It recalled that in July, as another concrete manifestation of this cooperation, the remains of the summer residence of Hulagu Khan of the Ilkhanate Empire were found in Caldiran district of Türkiye’s Van province through the joint work of Turkish and Mongolian historians and archaeologists.

The excavation, preservation and promotion of these monuments will continue to be one of the most important areas of cooperation between the two countries, it stated.

“In this regard, we would like to thank the Mongolian authorities for their support in the process and all the scientists that participated in the excavations,” it noted.

It was announced on Tuesday that during the archaeological excavations carried out since 2019 in the Nomgon region of Mongolia that the complex of Kutluk Ilterish Khagan, the father of Bilge Khagan and Kul Tigin, and an inscription were discovered.

In addition to these artifacts, 51 balbals (Kurgan stelae) and the remains of a building thought to be a place of worship were discovered in the excavation area.