In the ruins of an ancient Bactrian city in modern-day Afghanistan, archaeologists have unearthed silver-bound stone grinders still stained with the residue of saffron. Dating to the 2nd century BC, these tools are remarkably well-preserved and were discovered in what appears to be a communal preparation hall for seasonal rituals.
The discovery provides a link to a forgotten 'Spring-Tint' Festival, where saffron-based dyes were likely used to mark participants and sacred objects as a sign of renewal. This practice suggests a complex cultural exchange along the early Silk Road, where aromatic and pigment-rich plants played a central role in marking the arrival of the vernal equinox.