History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c23.s2.t4.1

v1.c23.s2.t4.1

The cradle of cotton cultivation appears to have been the Northwestern part of South Asia. There seems to have been two species, *Gossypium arboreum* and *Gossypium, horbaceum*. Three samples of cotton, dated circa B.C. 1760 have been found in Mohenjodaro. Two items constitute the base fibre for string but there is also a small 34 count cotton woven fragment comprising 60 ends and 20 picks per inch. A portion of one of the strings tested showed that the cotton was of the *G. arboreum* variety. Both varieties existed in their perennial forms in areas with adequate water and warm temperature. The appearance of the annual variety of *G.herbaceum*, which could be diffused over a larger area is dated circa late 6th early 7th centuries A.D. and its earliest appearance is associated with the Turfan region of Sinkiang. It soon became the predominant species in India as well ²⁰. The highest achievement in the area of textiles in India are associated with manipulation of this fibre.