 After the death of his father Bindusara around 272 B.C., Ashoka inherited the throne and ruled this area as well as Gandhara.Today, the Edicts of Ashoka inscribed on three large boulders near Bareri Hill serve as evidence of his rule there.The Mansehra rocks record fourteen of Ashoka's edicts, presenting aspects of the emperor's "dharma" or righteous law, and represent the earliest irrefutable evidence of writing in South Asia.