Project title: Nomgon-2 Archaeological Excavation
Project Manager: President of the Turkic Academy, Prof.Dr. Shahin Mustafayev
Project Coordinator: Senior Expert of the Turkic Academy, Dr. Napil Bazylkhan and Expert of the Turkic Academy, Dr. Nurbolat Bogenbayev
Implementing Organization: Turkic Academy and Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Duration: 2019 – Present
Annotation: Since 2019, the International Turkic Academy and the Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences have been conducting joint archaeological excavations in the Nomgon Valley, Arkhangai region, Mongolia. In 2022, these efforts led to the discovery of the Nomgon-2 memorial complex, believed to be dedicated to Ilterish Qutlug Khagan, the founder of the Second Turkic Khaganate (682–692).
Significant artifacts unearthed include a stone stele with inscriptions in ancient Turkic and Sogdian scripts, stone statues and various ceremonial objects. The inscriptions notably contain early references to the term "Turk" and the title "Qutlug," providing valuable insights into the early history of the Turkic Khaganate.
The discovery of the Nomgon-2 complex offers a deeper understanding of the Second Turkic Khaganate's origins and the pivotal role of Ilterish Qutlug Khagan. It also underscores the significance of the Nomgon Valley as a central site for Turkic heritage, contributing to the broader field of Turkology and the study of early Turkic civilization.