Die Alttürkischen Inschriften der Mongolei

A treat for the scholar of under-represented languages and the history of Mongolia, this monumental work on the Old Turkic inscriptions of Mongolia remains the classic exploration of the field. Originally published in three volumes, this two volume set contains all of the original material. Radloff’s analysis of the the Orkhon Valley monuments includes presentations in the original Old Turkic, or Orkhom-Yenisey script. These monuments represent the earliest known Turkish language. The inscriptions derive from obelisks dated to the eighth century A.D. and they relate the legendary origins of the Turks, long before the sole association with Anatolia. Related are the period of cultural achievements, the troubles encountered with the Chinese, and their eventual liberation.