Orkhon script

The Orkhon script is the earliest known Turkic alphabet. The script was discovered in a 1889 expedition to the Orkhon Valley monuments in Mongolia, which date from the early 8th century. It is thought that the script was inspired by non-cursive Sogdian. It was later used by the Uyghur Empire; a "Yenisei" variant is known from 9th-century Kirghiz inscriptions, and it has likely cousins in the Talas Valley of Turkestan and perhaps the Hungarian Szekler script of the 16th century.

Related Topics:
Turkic - Alphabet - Orkhon Valley monuments - 8th century - Sogdian - Uyghur Empire - Kirghiz - Talas Valley - Turkestan - Szekler

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The Orkhon script is sometimes called "runiform" because its external similarity to the runic alphabet. The similarity in form is likely due to the fact that both scripts were carved in stone and wood rather than written, though Orkhon includes curved shapes that runes lack.

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