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| Archaeologists on June 9 examine ancient Turkic epigraphs found in Mongolia. (Provided by Takashi Osawa) |
OSAKA--Two massive slabs of stone inscribed in
ancient Turkic script have been found on the steppes of eastern
Mongolia, the first such discovery in over a century, a Japanese
researcher said July 16.
The epigraphs date from the mid-eighth century, said Takashi
Osawa, a professor of ancient Turkic history at Osaka University's
graduate school.
He said the finds may offer invaluable clues to the political
systems and institutions of the Gokturk people, who faced the Sui and
Tang dynasties in China in times of peace and war as they reigned over
the steppes of Central Asia.
Osawa said he and researchers from the Institute of
Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences discovered remnants of
two giant epigraphs in May at an archaeological site called Dongoin
shiree. It is near Mount Delgerkhaan, 400 kilometers southeast of Ulan
Bator, the Mongolian capital.
The epigraphs measure 4 meters and 3 meters, respectively.
Combined, they are inscribed with 2,832 symbols, in 20 lines of ancient Turkic script.
Osawa, who deciphered the writing, said it describes the
lamentation of people who have to leave their beloved families and
homeland behind when they die.
"Oh, my home!" reads one inscription. Another reads: "Oh, my land!"
Signs engraved in the epigraphs indicate the artifacts likely
represent epitaphs dedicated to members of the Ashina tribe, the
reigning family of the Second Turkic Empire (682-744).
The Gokturks are the oldest nomadic people in Central Asia that left records of their own language in their own writing system.
The discovery is significant as it is the first of its kind
since the three most renowned ancient Turkic inscriptions (Bilge Kaghan,
Kol Tigin and Tonyukuk) were discovered in central Mongolia about 120
years ago, experts said.
"Other parts that remain buried in the ground may offer a record of the lives of the individuals commemorated," Osawa said.
"Research on ancient Turkic script has centered on the
re-reading of known inscriptions after a Danish linguist deciphered the
writing in the late 19th century," said Takao Moriyasu, a professor of
Central Asian history at Kinki University. "The latest finds could help
unravel new facts."
The history of the Gokturk state started when Yili Kaghan founded the First Turkic Empire in 552.
Political maneuvering by the Sui Dynasty of China split the
Gokturk nation into an eastern and a western part, with the East Turkic
Empire succumbing to Tang China's rule in 630. The Gokturks regained
independence from Tang China to found the Second Turkic Empire in 682,
only to be brought down by the Uighurs in 744.
Source: The Asahi Shgimbun
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