President Şeker Participated in Historical City Ruins and Togu Fish Workshop in Mongolia
TÜBA President Prof. Muzaffer Şeker attended the “”Moğolistan'daki Tarihi Şehir Kalıntıları ve Togu Balık Çalıştayı"(Workshop on Historical City Remains and Togu Balık in Mongolia) which plans to share the results of the excavations carried out in Tuul Valley of Mongolia in cooperation with TÜBA, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency Presidency (TIKA), Izmir Katip Çelebi University (IKÇÜ) and Mongolian Academy of Sciences Institute of Archaeology.
A team of 30 people took part in the joint excavations carried out in the ruins of the settlement in the Tuul Valley of Mongolia, believed to be the city of Togu Balık belonging to the Nine Oghuz, which is also mentioned in the Bilge Kagan and Kül Tigin inscriptions. The excavations were carried out in an area of 100 square kilometers covering the ruins of the city on both sides of the Tuul River and the surrounding Mayhan, Tömst and Agit mountains, with the aim of obtaining detailed information about the life styles of the ancient Turks in matters such as belief, death cult and urbanism. Togu Balık, mentioned in the inscriptions of Bilge Kagan and Kül Tigin, whose location could not be determined until today, was unearthed.
Prof. Muzaffer Şeker, President of TÜBA, opened the workshop and Prof. Ahmet Taşağıl, Professor at Yeditepe University, gave a lecture on “Türk Tarihinde Togu Balık”(Togu Balık in Turkish History). A total of four sessions; Preliminary Results of the Surveys Conducted Around Togu Balık in 2024, Is the Hermendenj City Remains Actually Togu Balık?, Geoarchaeological Initial Assessments, Hun Cities on the Herlen River: About Gua Dov Settlement, Settled Life in Mongolia in the Light of Historical Sources, Khitan Settlements in Mongolia and Togu Balık.
In the program, IKÇÜ Rector Prof. Saffet Köse emphasized the findings of the excavations carried out in the Tuul Valley, the ruins of the city of Togu Balık belonging to the Nine Oghuzes mentioned in the inscriptions of Bilge Kagan and Kül Tigin. Academicians made scientific presentations on the findings of the excavations and historical cities in Mongolia.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Serdar Çam stated that the excavations and research in Mongolia have yielded exciting results. He also announced that the museum built at the site of the Bilge Tonyukuk inscriptions had suffered a fire and would be put into service next year.
TÜBA President Prof. Muzaffer Şeker drew attention to the role of IKÇÜ in the studies in Mongolia. Şeker emphasized that there is a strong cultural bond between Türkiye and Mongolia. Stating that there is a neighborly relationship between Mongolia and Türkiye that does not recognize borders called “tertiary neighborliness”, Şeker said, “I would like everyone to see their ancestral homeland and the traces of our culture. There are nearly 2 thousand words between us. It would be useful to underline the importance of keeping these words alive in today's Türkiye as well as their historical connection.”
Mongolian State University Rector Prof. Ochırhuyag Bayanjargal reminded that they signed a protocol with IKÇU in 2019 and stated that they have done important work in 5 years. IKÇÜ Rector Prof. Saffet Köse stated that they have brought important works to the world heritage with their studies in the Orkhun region, where the oldest inscriptions in Turkish history are located, and that the studies shed light on the future of Turkish-Mongolian relations.
