Turkic Khaganate Period Artifacts Restored in Mongolia with TİKA’s Support

With the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Turkish and Mongolian experts conducted photogrammetric documentation, restitution, restoration and maintenance of damaged and at-risk monuments from the Göktürk period in the Arkhangai, Övörkhangai and Töv provinces of Mongolia.

The human figure stones (stone fathers) discovered so far in Mongolia are significant sources that provide insight into the religion, culture, art, life and beliefs of the nomads during the period they were created. To date, 785 stone fathers related to five periods —starting from the Bronze Age and including the Göktürk, Uyghur, Khitan and Mongolian periods— have been discovered in Mongolia, with most belonging to the Göktürk period.

A significant number of the stone fathers, which are parts of the tombs or tomb complexes, have not been moved to museums to preserve the contextual significance of their original locations, leaving them vulnerable to destruction in nature.

TİKA has initiated a restoration project for the 10 most damaged human figure stones, which are considered to be at high risk.

The restoration work was conducted using the mobile laboratory previously provided by TİKA to the Mongolian Cultural Heritage Center. Prof. Dr. Şaban Doğan, Director of the İKÇÜ-MUIS Turkology Research Institute Türkiye Office, who oversaw the restoration work, along with experts from the Mongolian Cultural Heritage Center, traveled approximately 4000 kilometers during the project. They examined damages on Göktürk period human figure stones, including those at the Ongi River complex, Ongud complex, Altan Sandal Mountain complex, Honiçiyn Gol and Godron Tolgoy. The process involved photogrammetric documentation, restitution, restoration and maintenance of the monuments.