In a groundbreaking find near the Rishikesh valley, archaeologists have uncovered the foundations of a stone building designed for the systematic study and processing of medicinal plants. The site, dating to the Mauryan Empire, contains over 500 labeled terracotta jars containing charred remains of rare Himalayan herbs.
Inscriptions in Brahmi script on the jars detail the properties and recommended dosages for each herb, suggesting a state-sponsored pharmaceutical system. This laboratory represents the earliest known physical evidence of the organized medical and botanical research mentioned in ancient Indian texts like the Arthashastra.