Abstract
In the second half of the 17th century, the first information about ancient Turkic written monuments began to be published. In 1893, at the Academy of Sciences of the Kingdom of Denmark, the linguist W. Thomsen presented about discovering the secret of runic writing. The scientist uncovered the meaning of the symbols in the ancient Turkic scriptures and demonstrated that the monument is the heritage of the Turks. Thomsen’s study of the scientific heritage has provided valuable insights into the history of Turkic linguistics, helping to define the direction of research on ancient Turkic written monuments and research methods. The article reviews the scientist’s works, analyses his contributions and scientific school in Turkology. The work reflects the specifics of Thomsen’s translations and his contribution to Turkic linguistics.