Boy, 11, Finds 1,000-Year-Old-Message Written in Runes on Pendant Made of Mammoth Bone

A fifth-grade student has discovered a piece of ‘jewellery’ decorated with ancient Turkic runic inscriptions. Pavel Yakovlev made the ‘great scientific discovery’ near his village in Yakutia.

The four words are believed to be in the Orkhon-Yenisei type script.

Such writings are normally found in rock art in Yakutia, also known as Sakha Republic, the world’s coldest region and the largest within the Russian Federation. 

Academic Ninel Malysheva said: ‘Runes rarely occur on such things as talismans and amulets. 

‘If it is confirmed that this bone found in Namsky district is genuine, it will be a great scientific discovery for the republic. 

‘A comprehensive study is now required involving paleontologists, archaeologists and Turkologists.’

The fifth-grade student Pavel discovered the ‘jewellery’ decorated with ancient Turkic runic inscriptions. Pictures: Michil Yakovlev

Studies on exact dating and decoding the inscription are underway at the Museum of Writing, part of the North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU).

One theory is that the words express ‘good wishes’, but scientists hope to find the exact meaning. 

Pavel’s village is some 100 kilometres north of Yakutsk, the regional capital, and the world’s coldest city.

Another example of Turkic runes in Yaktutia is the so-called Petrov inscription.

It is a writing made using ocher some 200 km from Yakutsk. 

It is known as the most northerly rune inscription in the world.