Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s6.t19: Jadeite

v1.c11.s6.t19.1

Jadeite or the hard form of jadestone, which all the Mohenjo-Daro jade beads consist of, is found typically in the Myitkyina district of North Burma. The same mineral is reported to occur also in Yunan (China). The material from Rewah state in central India is the nephrite variety, but it is accompanied by some jadeite. It is also reported to occur in Tibet. Thus for the source of Mohenjo-Daro material, there is the choice out of three localities: the Pamirs and eastern Turkestan, Tibet or North Burma. The finding of jadeite objects in Mohenjo-Daro indicates the strong probability of communication with central Asia. (MS-II, 683-684)