Self-taught Turkish ‘linguist’ keeps dead language alive

Mehmet Kusman, an 86-year-old self-taught expert, has dedicated his life to preserving the forgotten language of the ancient Urartian kingdom in eastern Turkey. Despite his lack of formal education, Kusman has mastered the script and vocabulary, claiming to be one of the last seven people in Turkey who can speak the language. The Urartians, a powerful state between the 9th and 7th centuries BC, built cities, fortresses, and irrigation systems, unifying tribal mountain communities.

Kusman's passion for the ancient language has made him a local celebrity, and he has lectured in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, with plans to visit Japan. Local historians acknowledge Kusman's efforts, but caution that his ability to truly speak Urartian is uncertain, as they lack the necessary vocabulary and texts to confirm it.