Rare Dede Korkut Manuscript Donated Unknowingly in Bursa May Gain UNESCO Recognition

One of the most important literary treasures of the Turkic world—an extremely rare manuscript of the Book of Dede Korkut—has resurfaced in an unexpected way in Bursa, Türkiye. The manuscript, donated to a museum by a collector who initially did not realize its significance, is now recognized as one of the few surviving copies of the legendary epic tradition and could soon gain international recognition through UNESCO cultural heritage initiatives.

Today, the manuscript—known as the Bursa Copy (Bursa Manuscript)—is preserved and displayed in a special exhibition room at the Muradiye Manuscripts Museum, where visitors can explore both the original document and a digital presentation explaining the world of Dede Korkut.

A rare witness to a legendary Turkic epic

The Book of Dede Korkut occupies a central place in the cultural history of the Turkic peoples. The stories recount heroic deeds, moral codes, social customs, and spiritual beliefs of early Oghuz communities. Long transmitted orally, these narratives were eventually written down centuries later, forming one of the earliest examples of the transition from epic tradition to written storytelling in Turkic literature.

Scholars generally believe that the tales circulated orally between the 9th and 11th centuries, while written compilations began appearing in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The newly recognized Bursa manuscript adds an important layer to this tradition. Consisting of 238 pages and twelve narrative stories, the work closely parallels the well-known Dresden manuscript, but it also contains distinctive features that have attracted the attention of philologists and historians.

According to researchers, the Bursa manuscript is one of only five known copies of the Book of Dede Korkut worldwide, alongside manuscripts preserved in Dresden, the Vatican, the Turkish Historical Society archives, and Günbed-e Kavus in Iran.

An unexpected discovery

The story of how the manuscript entered public collections is almost as remarkable as the text itself.

According to local officials, antique dealer İbrahim Koca came across a collection of old books while visiting a village near Lake Uluabat in northwestern Türkiye. The books were kept in the home of an imam in the rural Fadıllı neighborhood. Koca purchased several volumes without realizing that one of them might contain an important literary artifact.

Later, while examining the materials in his shop, he donated several of the books to the Bursa City Museum. It was only afterward that a collector recognized the manuscript as an authentic copy of the Book of Dede Korkut.

With that realization, the manuscript was transferred into institutional care and eventually became known as the Bursa Copy, adding a new chapter to the textual history of one of the most celebrated works of Turkic literature.

Linguistic features that intrigue scholars

One of the most striking aspects of the Bursa manuscript is its vocalized script. Unlike many historical manuscripts, where vowel sounds must be inferred, the Bursa copy includes diacritical marks that clarify pronunciation.

This feature provides scholars with valuable evidence for interpreting ambiguous words and phrases in the epic text. Some passages may even require re-evaluation of previous readings based on the linguistic clues preserved in this manuscript.

Researchers also examined the manuscript’s physical features. Paper analysis and watermark studies conducted by specialist Nil Baydar indicate that the paper was produced between 1580 and 1593, while the writing itself was likely added in the early 1600s.

Such findings help historians understand how the oral tradition of Dede Korkut continued to circulate and be copied during the late Ottoman period.

From restoration to public exhibition

Following its identification, the manuscript underwent conservation work and scholarly study. A facsimile edition was produced, accompanied by both the original early Anatolian Turkish text and a modern Turkish translation to make the work accessible to contemporary readers.

The translation project was carried out under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Ferruh Ağca, with contributions from renowned Turkologist Prof. Dr. Osman Fikri Sertkaya.

A limited print run of 1,000 numbered copies was distributed primarily to universities, researchers, and cultural institutions across the Turkic world, including diplomatic missions of Turkic republics.

Meanwhile, the Muradiye Manuscripts Museum created a dedicated digital exhibition space where visitors can watch a 6.5-minute multimedia presentation explaining the historical and cultural background of the Dede Korkut stories.

Cultural heritage and UNESCO recognition

Interest in the manuscript also intersects with broader international recognition of the Dede Korkut tradition.

In 2018, UNESCO added the “Heritage of Dede Qorqud / Korkyt Ata / Dede Korkut: Epic Culture, Folk Tales and Music” to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, acknowledging the living storytelling and musical traditions associated with the epic across the Turkic world.

The Bursa manuscript represents a rare written witness to that much older oral tradition. Cultural authorities in Türkiye have completed initiatives aimed at highlighting the manuscript’s importance within the framework of UNESCO cultural heritage awareness.

If recognized within that broader context, the manuscript would further strengthen international appreciation of the literary and cultural legacy surrounding Dede Korkut.

A manuscript linking past and present

For scholars of literature, linguistics, and cultural history, the Bursa copy offers more than just another version of a famous epic. It is a tangible reminder of how oral traditions were preserved, adapted, and eventually written down over centuries.

From a chance discovery in a rural home to a carefully preserved museum treasure, the Bursa Manuscript of the Book of Dede Korkut now stands as a rare bridge between the ancient storytelling traditions of the Turkic world and modern efforts to safeguard humanity’s cultural heritage.