Relatively good news from Afghanistan

Major treasure trove made public

Now, what is known as the Bactrian gold - 20,600 pieces of gold jewellery, funeral ornaments and personal belongings from 2000-year-old burial mounds - has emerged from hiding intact, a shimmering example of the heights scaled by ancient Afghan culture.

This gold was found by a Soviet-Afghan archaelogical team, then hidden during the Soviet invasion, the Taliban regime, and the American invasion. If the very patient people who've been protecting it feel secure enough to go public about it (though it isn't yet on display and apparently won't be any time soon), then things are pretty certainly getting better.

Relatively good news from Afghanistan

Major treasure trove made public

Now, what is known as the Bactrian gold - 20,600 pieces of gold jewellery, funeral ornaments and personal belongings from 2000-year-old burial mounds - has emerged from hiding intact, a shimmering example of the heights scaled by ancient Afghan culture.

This gold was found by a Soviet-Afghan archaelogical team, then hidden during the Soviet invasion, the Taliban regime, and the American invasion. If the very patient people who've been protecting it feel secure enough to go public about it (though it isn't yet on display and apparently won't be any time soon), then things are pretty certainly getting better.