[1] The inscriptions relate in both languages the legendary origins of the Turks, the golden age of their history, their subjugation by the Tang dynasty, and their liberation by Ilterish Qaghan.

The Khoshoo Tsaidam archaeological site (more images here) in the Orkhon Valley region is where the inscriptions were found.

The original text was written in the Old Turkic alphabet and was deciphered by the Danish philologist Vilhelm Thomsen in 1893.

[6] The Göktürks have left artifacts and installations all over their realm, from Manchuria to the Black Sea, but only in modern-day Mongolia have any memorials to kings and other aristocrats been found.

Bilge Khagan's stone shows a carved ibex (the emblem of Göktürk kagans) and a twisted dragon.

The Old Turkic inscriptions on these monuments were written by Yollug Tigin, a nephew of Bilge Khagan.

[7][8][9] The inscriptions clearly show the sacred importance of the region, as evidenced by the statement, "If you stay in the land of the Ötüken, and send caravans from there, you will have no trouble.

All the peoples in the four quarters of the world I have brought to keeping the peace and making an end of hostilities; they all have obeyed me, and serve me.

"The rest of the inscriptions are broken up and fragmentary, but seem to detail the conquests against the Kirghiz and the Tangut peoples and also the death of Kul-Tegin in battle, and eventually the succession of Bilge Khagan by his son.

[11] The following is an excerpt from the last paragraph of the inscriptions (in Old Turkic and English languages):[12] "You, Turk Oghuz lords and peoples, hear this!

It appears as though Bilge Khagan wanted to distinguish his people from the Chinese in order to remain a strong independent society.

For him they waged war in the East towards the sun's rising, as far as Bokli kagan, in the West they made expeditions as far as Taimirkapig; for the Chinese Emperor they conquered kingdoms and power.

Inscriptions found in the First Turkic Khaganate also imply that terms denoting slavery or other forms of subordinate status, such as qul (male slave) and küng (female slave or handmaiden), are frequently applied to a population of defeated political entities.

The Chinese people, who give in abundance gold, silver, millet, and silk, have always used ingratiating words and have at their disposal enervating riches.

[1][21] Both inscriptions are part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mongolia.

TIKA ( Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency) showed interest in the site in the late 20th century and finalized their project to restore and protect all three[clarification needed] inscriptions.

The total cost of the project is around 20 million dollars and eventually will include building a museum to house the inscriptions and other recently discovered artifacts.