A team of international archaeologists has discovered a sealed stone chest containing a collection of 1st-century birch-bark manuscripts in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. The documents, written in the Kharosthi script, appear to be a comprehensive medical library detailing surgical procedures for cataracts and bone setting, influenced by both Ayurvedic and Hellenistic traditions.
The find is being hailed as a "missing link" in the history of global medicine, showcasing the intellectual exchange that occurred along the Silk Road. Alongside the manuscripts, the team found fine bronze scalpels and copper forceps, indicating that the valley was a center for advanced medical practice and training during the Indo-Greek and Kushan periods.