According to the results of a scientific archaeological expedition, jointly conducted by the International Turkic Academy and the Institute of History and Archeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences in the Nomgon Valley (Arkhangai Aimag of Mongolia) were discovered a complex, dedicated to Kutlug Elteris Khagan and an inscription in his honor.
In this regard, on August 31, 2022, the International Turkic Academy held a special press conference at the Central Communications Service under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the framework of which the results of the expedition were described in detail. In the framework of the press conference participated the President of the International Turkic Academy Darkhan Kydyrali, the Head of the group of the Center for Medieval Archaeological Research of the Institute of History and Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia, the Professor Altangereliin Enkhtur and the expert of the Turkic Academy Napil Bazylkhan. The event was also attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Kazakhstan Atalar Atamoglanov, Aide to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of Kazakhstan Dorjiin Bayarkhuu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Kazakhstan Batyr Rejepov, Ambassador at Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Mukash, Assistant to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of Kazakhstan Turhan Dilmaç, media representatives and public figures. «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-Khagan - to Kutlug Elteris Khagan, who revived the Turkic Khaganate, was discovered. The Head of the Academy said: «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 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. 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 as the oldest written monument of the Turkic epoch, where the name «Turk» is found for the first time. In general, 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, were found the symbols and various artifacts and also the date of construction was determined. Following on from these works, a complex dedicated to Kutluk-Khagan was found as a result of the Nomgon expedition, which began in 2019.
