The Yenisei Inscriptions are a series of Old Turkic inscriptions from the 8th-10th century CE, found near Yenisei Kyrgyz kurgans located in the Upper and Middle basins of the Yenisei River in modern-day Russia in Khakassia, Tuva and the Altai Republic.^[1][2]

It is believed that Yenisei Inscriptions belong to different Turkic tribes living in Yenisei region. Some of these inscriptions, which are usually erected as tombstones, are a few words, most of them 5-10 lines. These inscriptions are written in a plain and no exaggeration language.^[3] It is often seen that the author tells in a sincere language that they left this world without being satiated. Traces of Shamanism is also seen in the inscriptions.^[4]

Period

Yenisei inscriptions used unique letters instead of some of the Orkhon letters that we see in Orkhon inscriptions. These are more primitive than the letters used in Orkhon inscriptions. The texts used in the inscriptions are also primitive compared to the Orkhon inscriptions and there are no long texts since all are tombstones. Therefore, it is thought to have been written before the Orkhon inscriptions.^[3][5] However, dating studies point to the 8th-9th centuries.^[6]

History of investigation

By 1983, 145 inscriptions were known, by 2006 - 184 inscriptions,^[10] and as of 2013, 225 inscriptions have been found.^[11]

Inscriptions of Yenisei tribes

The inscriptions were named with the name of the river, village or region where they were first found, and were indicated with numbers such as E-1, E-50, e-150 in academic type. For example: Uyuk-Tarlak (Е-1), Barık I (Е-5), Barık II (Е-6), Elegest (Е-10), Begre (Е-11), Uybat I (Е-30) etc.^{[12][13][14][15]}

List of Inscriptions