gems, beryl, emerald, Afghanistan, anthropology, Pakistan, Central Asia, Swat

An emerald from the late Hellenistic (or early Roman) period and another emerald from the end of the Middle Ages, both set in small rings, were studied using non-destructive methods. Their microscopic, spectroscopic and chemical characteristics are consistent with those of emeralds from the Swat Valley, Pakistan. This suggests that Swat Valley emeralds may have been more common in ancient jewellery than previously thought. This study highlights the importance of combining gemmological analytical techniques with archaeology to draw more reliable conclusions about the origins of historical gemstones.