An international team of scholars using multispectral imaging has deciphered a series of 10th-century palm-leaf palimpsests found in a temple archive in Tamil Nadu. The hidden layers of text contain a lost Sanskrit treatise titled Bija-Vijnana, which details advanced protocols for the hybridization and cross-breeding of cereal crops and fruit trees.
The manuscript describes specific techniques for grafting and seed selection to increase drought resistance, suggesting a highly organized approach to agricultural science in medieval India. These findings offer a new perspective on the resilience of ancient farming systems and the deep historical roots of Vrikshayurveda (the science of plant life).