Orkhon inscriptions

The Orkhon inscriptions are a set of monumental stone stelae in central Mongolia’s Orkhon Valley engraved in Old Turkic script, erected in the early 8th century to commemorate Göktürk leaders and events.

The best-known stones include memorials for Kül Tigin and Bilge Khagan and contain historical records, genealogy and eulogies in a script now called Old Turkic. The inscriptions are a primary source for early Turkic history and language and are displayed in situ with protective arrangements.

Scholars date the monuments to around 732-735 CE, and they were recorded and studied by explorers and linguists from the 19th century onwards. The stones are part of a broader archaeological landscape that includes burial mounds and traces of medieval encampments.

The monuments stand in the Orkhon Valley in Övörkhangai Province, central Mongolia, an area of open steppe and river corridor that also contains the modern town of Kharkhorin and the Erdene Zuu monastery complex.

• Date and script: The inscriptions date to the early 8th century (around 732-735 CE) and represent the earliest large-scale examples of Old Turkic writing.
• UNESCO and nearby sites: Part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape UNESCO listing, the site is typically visited alongside nearby Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu monastery remains.

What to See #

• Kül Tigin and Bilge Khagan stelae: Two main monument sites carry long vertical stelae engraved in Old Turkic script that commemorate the deeds of Göktürk leaders and provide historical accounts of the early 8th century.
• Surrounding archaeological area: The inscription stones are set within the Orkhon Valley landscape near archaeological remains of seasonal encampments and ancient burial mounds.