A diagram of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina is one of the treasures found among thousands of ancient manuscripts.
A diagram of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina is one of the treasures found among thousands of ancient manuscripts.
The Telltale Scribes of Timbuktu
The caravan city harbors great books, mysterious letters—and a world of intrigue.
This story appears in the January 2011 issue of National Geographic magazine.
This content is Subscriber-Exclusive
You must have a National Geographic subscription to explore this article.
