A Birch bark document is a document written on pieces of birch bark. Such kind of documents are known in several cultures.

Russian birch bark writing

Russian birch bark writings (Russian: берестяная грамота, "berestyanaya gramota") are dated to 11th — 15th centuries.

The first one was found on July 26, 1951 during excavations in Novgorod in a layer dated to the 14th-15th century junction. Since then the number of finds is close to 1,000 in several other historical Russian and other East Slavic towns: Staraya Russa, Smolensk, Torzhok, Pskov, Tver, Moscow, Ryazan, Zvenigorod Volynsky (Ukraine) Vitsebsk (Belarus), Mstislavl (Belarus). These findings considerably changed the understanding of the cultural level of East Slavs of these times.

About a hundred styluses have also been found, mostly made of iron, some of bone or bronze.

Most of the birch bark documents are ordinary letters by various people written in what is called old Novgorod dialect, most probably the vernacular. The letters are of a personal or business character. A few documents are written in old Church Slavonic. In 2003 it was announced that a birch bark with a part of the known work of Cyril of Turaw had been found in Torzhok. See the "Old Novgorod dialect" article for samples of some texts.

The late discovery, as well as the state of preservation, of the bark is explained by deep culture layer in Novgorod (down to 8 meters (25 feet)) and heavy waterlogged clay soil which prevented the access of oxygen. Serious excavations in Novgorod started only in 1932, although some attempts had been made in 19th century.

The existence of birch bark books was mentioned in some old East Slavic manuscripts.

Other

In 1957 a document written in Karelian language was found in Novgorod.

Some Gandharan Buddhist texts have been found written on birch bark and preserved in clay jars.