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The article focuses on the chemical composition of birch bark and its use as a historic writing material. The use of birch bark has been prevalent in ancient northern India, Nepal, central Asia and north-east Europe. Birch bark consists of mainly organic constituents. Birch bark contains little cellulose but good amount of waxes and oil making it highly resistant towards deterioration. The presence of lignin and rosin in the birch bark makes it quite acidic.