Excavations near the historic Buddhist site of Amaravati in India have led to the discovery of a 1st-century CE medical conservatory. The complex includes a central courtyard for the drying of medicinal plants and a series of subterranean chambers where hundreds of clay tablets were found, inscribed with botanical descriptions and pharmaceutical recipes.
The tablets belong to the era of the famed Buddhist philosopher and physician Nagarjuna, offering a rare look at the systematic study of Ayurvedic medicine within a monastic setting. The discovery includes physical residues of rare herbs in stone grinding bowls, confirming the specific treatments described in the ancient inscriptions for various ailments ranging from respiratory issues to surgical recovery.