Mansehra Rock Edicts

The Mansehra Rock Edicts are fourteen inscriptions of Mauryan emperor Ashoka (r. c. 272-235 BC) carved into three granite boulders in Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Written in Kharosthi, the ancient Indic script of Gandhara culture, they represent the earliest irrefutable evidence of writing in South Asia. The edicts articulate Ashoka's dharma -- his moral philosophy emphasizing piety, moderation, tolerance, and respect for life -- adopted after the devastating Kalinga War. Environmental degradation has caused the script to fade, prompting protective canopies. The site was submitted for UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004.