A new interpretation of the Tuekta IV (A 88) inscription based on its 3D documentation

Abstract

This article presents a new interpretation of the Tuekta IV runic inscription based on the latest data obtained through digital photogrammetry. The study aims to improve the methodology for researching runic monuments in the Altai Republic, especially given their poor state of preservation and archaeological significance. The Tuekta IV (A 88) is a unique written monument consisting of three lines of runes carved on an upright stone at the foot of a low mountain range southeast of the village of Tuekta in the Ongudai District of the Altai Republic. The first reading and interpretation of this inscription were published in 2009 on the website "Written Runic Monuments of the Altai Republic" and in the "Catalog of Ancient Turkic Runic Monuments of the Altai Mountains" in 2012. Traditional methods of studying Altai runic monuments, such as contact analysis, are often ineffective due to the inscriptions’ features. These inscriptions are characterized by extremely fine lines, small signs, partially destroyed surfaces, and the presence of petroglyphs from various eras. Since 2017, we have been using three-dimensional documentation methods. As part of the ongoing study of ancient Turkic runic monuments in Altai, we are processing the obtained three-dimensional data in detail. Initial or refined interpretations of Altai runic inscriptions have already been published. The main objective of this study is to publish a new catalogue of Altai runic inscriptions, which will serve as an important resource for further research on Turkic writing and culture and contribute significantly to the advancement of Turkic studies. The ultimate goal of this research is to create of a new Catalog of Altai Runic Inscriptions, which will be an important resource for furthering the study of Turkic writing and culture. Using a three-dimensional documentation method based on digital photogrammetry technology, which provides highly detailed recordings, we made significant progress deciphering the Tuekta IV inscription. While analyzing the three-dimensional data, identified and corrected errors in the initial reading and interpretation (signs 1-16). We achieved a more precise identification of the signs in the first 21 signs of the initial part of the second line and proposed a possible interpretation of the middle fragments of the inscription (signs 17-23), which we had not previously read. Probable decipherment of the symbols in the second line of the inscription allowed us to correct previous Turkologist readings and interpretations of the text. Consequently, this article enables us to propose a new, more substantiated interpretation of the entire inscription.