Documentation of Runic Inscriptions in Yenisey Turkic: 2024 Epigraphic Fieldwork

Turkic runiform inscriptions of the Yenisei River basin constitute one of the largest and most intensively studied corpora of Old Turkic epigraphy. Despite more than three centuries of research and an extensive bibliography, further progress has been impeded by fundamental problems in nomenclature, indexing, and source documentation. The Yenisei index has gradually lost its organizing function due to inconsistent principles of codification, parallel naming, inclusion of non-textual monuments, and the attribution of unrelated South Yenisei inscriptions. In addition, much of the available documentation relies on subjective or poorly verifiable materials, while published photographs are often retouched or technically insufficient for reliable readings. This paper presents the aims, methodology, and results of a large-scale project launched to systematize runiform epigraphic data and to re-document monuments using modern digital techniques. Special emphasis is placed on photogrammetric 3D documentation, producing high-resolution polygonal models that allow algorithmic enhancement of poorly preserved inscriptions. The article summarizes the results of the 2024 fieldwork in Khakassia and Tuva, during which 76 Yenisei runiform inscriptions—approximately half of the known corpus—were documented in museums and in situ. The study demonstrates that three-dimensional models are essential for revising readings and establishing a reliable, verifiable source base for future research. Keywords: Old Turkic runiform inscriptions, Yenisei inscriptions, Turkic epigraphy, runology, Documentation; Photogrammetry, 3D modeling