Актуальные вопросы тюркологических исследований

539 Actual Problems of Turkic Studies Besides description pages, geographic coordinates of inscriptions are shown on maps using Google’s map services. The individual glyphs are also described systematically: (1) an infobox shows the form, transliteration equivalent and phonemic value of the given glyph, (2) an alphabetic list, and (3) a dynamic map present the inscriptions containing the glyph. Glyphs are presented in tables which allow the user to have a systematic overview about their phonemic value, allographic relation etc. Outlook The above information makes it clear that the Database of Turkic Runiform Inscriptions offers a functionality that goes far beyond the possibilities of con- ventional scholarship. First of all, it will make the data accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Thus it will enable a broader circle of scholars to participate in the research. New results can be added and corrections can be implemented with ease. Monuments from further areas can be included into the database successively. In the long run, the Mainz database aims at docu- menting all the runiform inscriptions in Eurasia of possible Turkic provenance on which data is available. The usability of the platform will increase when more inscriptions are added. With every inscription added, the list of glyphs, their value and allographic relation will become more complete. It is highly probable that some unclear passages will become readable because pieces of information scattered throughout the literature are brought together, and it is likely that some rare glyphs hitherto unreadable can be deciphered as the actual signs and their distribution are embedded in the database. Textual parallels and conventionalized expressions that exist in several inscriptions will become vis- ible and may offer the key to the solution of some corrupt or damaged passages. Gaps in the monuments and passages difficult to read can easily be identified, a fact that allows systematic research into problematic passages. Ideally, the da- tabase might perhaps even offer the key to the decipherment of some marginal inscriptions which are hitherto uninterrupted. A handy feature of computer based technologies is that they enable continuous updating, correction, addi- tion of new photographs, possibly three-dimensional scans, newly discovered inscriptions and much more. We are aware that there is still a long way to go. Only a fractional amount of inscriptions has been entered into the database until now, and it will need many years and a lot of team work until the platform will develop its full func- tionality. However, with perseverance and the collaboration of colleagues the database will open new horizons for the research of Turkic runiform inscrip- tions of Eurasia.