When do the earliest written records of Turkic languages date from?

The earliest written records of Turkic languages date from the 8th century CE. While some have attempted to identify Turkic elements in earlier sources, such as Hunnic references in 4th-century Chinese texts, these interpretations have not been successful.12

The most prominent examples of these early records are the Orhon inscriptions, which were discovered in the Orhon River valley of northern Mongolia. These monuments, erected in 732 and 735 CE to honor members of the Turk dynasty, are written in a script often referred to as "Turkish runes" or the Kök Turki alphabet. Similar inscriptions from the same period have also been found in southern Siberia near the Yenisey River. The polished style of these texts suggests that the language had undergone a considerable period of development prior to these inscriptions.342