As a result of a scientific archaeological expedition in the Arkhangai region, Nomgon plain, jointly conducted by the Institute of Archeology of the International Turkic Academy and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, a complex dedicated to Kutlug Elteris Khagan was discovered.
On this occasion, the Turkic Academy held a special press conference in Ulaanbaatar. The President of the International Turkic Academy D. Kydyrali, Director of the Institute of History and Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia G. Eregzen, researcher of the International Turkic Academy N. Bazylkhan, Head of the Medieval Archaeological Research Center of the Institute of History, Archeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences A.Enkhtor, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Mongolia G.Koishibaev, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Mongolia Z.Atesh, the Ambassador of Hungary to Mongolia B.Obrushanskaya, members of the diplomatic mission, scientists and intellectuals. During the press conference D.Kydyraly spoke about the research work of the International Turkic Academy in Mongolia and said that this year the Nomgon-2022 joint expedition had discovered a complex of monuments, dedicated to Kutlug Elteris Khagan. The Head of the Academy said: «Today I want to share good news with you. As a result of this year's expedition, a complex and tombstone dedicated to the father of Kultegin and Bilge Khagans, Kutlug Elteris Khagan, who revived the Turkic khaganate, was discovered. «I want to note that this is the oldest written monument, where the name «Turk» is found for the first time in a valuable artifact of the Turkic epoch». The Head of the Academy expressed his gratitude to the members of the expedition, who had been opened a new discovery and to the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, which supported this work. In turn, the Director of the Institute of History and Archeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences G.Eregzen reported about the results of his scientific archaeological expedition to the Nomgon Plain. He noted that the Nomkhon complex is the most important finding of the ancient Turkic era in Mongolia. After that, the expedition members- archaeologist N.Bazylkhan and A.Enkhtor focused on the features of the newly discovered monument. In addition, the Ambassadors who specially arrived to the meeting highly appreciated the work of the International Turkic Academy and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, which had been opened new discovery and wished them success in further research. The total area of the complex is 49x41.5 m. A moat was dug around the complex, which was located in an oval shape from west to east and a castle was built from it by piling up soil. On the western side of the complex there is a stone cube with a hole in the middle (an altar), stone figures of a man, a statue of a lion with two cubs and two statues of sheep. To the east of the gates of the complex is a ridge of 51 balbals. Among them, out of five balbals, the symbol of the «mountain goat» belonging to the Ashin tribe was revealed. In addition, the remains of ceramic coatings and bricks laid on a footpath were excavated in the complex, which determined the presence of baryk (places of worship). In front of the baryk, the upper part of a written monument and a stand in the form of a turtle were found. An ancient Turkic runic inscription is carved on two sides of the found valuable find, and on the third side there is a Sogdian pismo. The scientists who participated in the expedition identified a number of words from the text of the monument, such as «Tengri», «Turk», «Kutlug», «tumen». Based on the information obtained from the text of the inscription, it is concluded that the Nomgon complex was dedicated to the father of Kultegin and Bilge Khagan - Kutluk Elteris Khagan, who revived the Turkic Khagan. In addition, this inscription is considered the oldest written monument of the Turkic epoch, where the name "Turk" is found for the first time. On the whole, the Nomgon ritual complex in all its features is similar to the ritual complexes of Bilge-Khagan and Kultegin. In the upper part of the Nomgon written monument there is depicted the head of two wolves in the form of a dragon with its turned down body. It is known that such Khagan attributes - a plot in the form of a dragon, a wolf's head were carved in the upper part of the monuments in honor of Taspar- Khagan, Bilge, Kultegin and other monuments. The Nomgon inscription is considered an important monument of national importance such as are the Orkhon monuments. The Academy will prepare a scientific collection book, dedicated to the results of the Nomgon scientific expedition and present it in the capitals of the Turkic states. Excavations of monuments of the Turkic epoch in Mongolia will continue in the future. It should be noted that research work on the Nomgon Plain had been began in 2019. However, the «Nomgon» joint expedition, suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, resumed excavations in July 2022. As part of the joint expedition «Nomgon-2022» in the work of research group of the International Turkic Academy took part Darkhan Kydyrali, Napil Bazylkhan, Nurbolat Bogenbaev, consultant archaeologist, the Director of the Center for Archaeological Research of the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia, academician Damdinsüren Tseveendorzh (1949-2022), the head of the group Center for Medieval Archaeological Research of the Institute of History, Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia ,the Professor Altangereliin Enkhtur, archaeologists Tserenkhandyn Buyankhishig, Gonchigiin Batbold and Narantuyaagiin Tsengel, Mnkhsaikha Uuganbayar. Before that, the Turkic Academy held archaeological excavations at the memorial of Shiveet-Ulan in Mongolia. In 2016 he organized a special expedition in this valley. In the ceremonial complex, that was built up during the reign of Kutlug-Khagan, the symbols and various artifacts were found and also the date of construction was determined. In continuation of these works, a complex dedicated to Kutlug-Khagan was found as a result of the Nomgon expedition, which began in 2019.
