The Origins of Cotton Farming: Unraveling Mehrgarh's History
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Chapter 1: The Enigmatic Farmers of Mehrgarh
The Mehrgarh archaeological site is recognized for revealing the earliest known use of cotton. Dating back to around 5500 BC, this location in present-day Pakistan's Balochistan province offers a glimpse into early agricultural practices.
Around this time, two individuals were laid to rest in the Kachi Plain. An adult male was positioned on his side, with a child, perhaps one or two years old, at his feet. Their burial chamber was encased by a low mud-brick wall.
In the 1990s, archaeologists from the French Archaeological Mission in Pakistan uncovered this grave. Among the findings was an unusual item—eight copper beads, remnants of a bracelet, found near the man’s wrist. This burial was one of only two in the region that contained a copper artifact.
A detailed analysis by a team from the Centre de Research et de Restauration des musées de France (C2RMF), led by anthropologist Christophe Moulherat, revealed something unexpected within one of the beads: vegetable fibers. Subsequent investigations confirmed these fibers were cotton, marking the earliest documented use of this material. The people of Mehrgarh were pioneers in agriculture, laying the groundwork for the Indus Valley Civilization, a significant Bronze Age society.
Who were these early farmers, and how did they cultivate cotton? To uncover their story, let’s journey back to 7000 BC.
Section 1.1: Geographic and Cultural Context
Mehrgarh is strategically located in the northern part of the Kachi Plain, at the foot of the Bolan Pass, which separates the Indian and Iranian tectonic plates. This area is bordered by the fertile Indus basin to the east and the hilly Iranian plateau to the west. The dry climate experiences extreme summer temperatures, yet the Bolan River provides essential irrigation for agriculture.
By 7000 BC, a small farming community had emerged by the riverside, consisting of over a hundred inhabitants. Two primary theories exist regarding the origins of these farmers. One posits that agriculture was introduced to South Asia by Anatolian migrants. Before Mehrgarh, there was no evidence of plant cultivation or animal herding among the indigenous hunter-gatherers, whose tools date back to before 7000 BC.
Conversely, some scholars argue that Mehrgarh's agriculture developed independently. Genetic studies indicate minimal influence from Anatolian populations, suggesting a local origin for their farming practices.
Section 1.2: Life and Culture in Mehrgarh
By 7000 BC, Mehrgarh’s residents had constructed multi-roomed mud-brick homes along the river, with courtyards serving both as living spaces and burial sites. The graves contained various items, including tools, pottery, and evidence of trade, such as lapis lazuli from Afghanistan.
As the community expanded, a cemetery was established, featuring 150 burial rooms. These graves were intricately constructed, with families interring their deceased together, reflecting strong familial ties.
Pottery began appearing around 5500 BC, and by 4000 BC, the introduction of the potter’s wheel led to more intricate designs. The diet of the Mehrgarh inhabitants is less understood, but they domesticated humped zebu cattle and cultivated barley, wheat, and cotton.
The presence of cotton seeds in storage areas indicates that the people of Mehrgarh were likely the first cotton farmers, recognizing the economic potential of this crop. Moulherat's discovery of cotton fibers in the copper bracelet challenges previous beliefs that cotton cultivation began later in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Chapter 2: The First Evidence of Cotton Cultivation
This video titled "The Story of Cotton" delves into the historical significance of cotton and its evolution through the ages.
Another insightful video, "The History of Cotton | Georgia Cotton," explores the journey of cotton from ancient times to its modern-day relevance.
Section 2.1: Discovering Cotton Threads
Moulherat's findings pushed back the timeline for cotton cultivation, with the copper bracelet from 5500 BC serving as the earliest known evidence. The preservation of cotton fibers was attributed to the corrosion of copper, which replaced organic compounds, allowing for their survival.
To confirm the identity of the fibers, Moulherat's team examined a section of the bead using a scanning electron microscope. The analysis revealed cotton fibers, although it remains unclear whether these were domesticated or wild.
Section 2.2: Cotton's Impact on Society
Fifty cotton species exist, with G. arboreum (tree cotton) being predominant in the Indian subcontinent. The absence of wild varieties suggests that the Mehrgarh inhabitants were either familiar with domestic cotton or may have cultivated it.
Moulherat emphasized that the early inhabitants of Mehrgarh had extensive agricultural experience, making the production of cotton likely. The discovery of cotton seeds in storage areas indicates that these early farmers were not only cultivating but also storing surplus seeds for future use.
As the Bolan River's course shifted over the next millennia, Mehrgarh evolved into a significant settlement, setting the stage for the rise of the Indus Valley Civilization around 2600 BC.
In conclusion, the story of Mehrgarh and its early cotton farmers illuminates the beginnings of agricultural practices that would shape human civilization. Their innovative spirit and agricultural advancements laid the foundation for future societies.
References
Moulherat, C., Tengberg, M., Haquet, J., & Mille, B. (2002). First Evidence of Cotton at Neolithic Mehrgarh, Pakistan: Analysis of Mineralized Fibres from a Copper Bead. Journal of Archaeological Science, 29(12).
Mithen, S. J. (2003) After the Ice: A Global Human History, 20,000–5000 BC. Weidenfeld & Nicholson.
Gangal, K., Sarson, G. R., & Shukurov, A. (2014). The Near-Eastern Roots of the Neolithic in South Asia. PLOS ONE, 9(5).
Coningham, Robin; Young, Ruth (2015), The Archaeology of South Asia: From the Indus to Asoka, c.6500 BCE–200 CE, Cambridge University Press.
Shinde, Vasant et al (2018). An Ancient Harappan Genome Lacks Ancestry from Steppe Pastoralists or Iranian Farmers. Cell, Volume 179, Issue 3.
Narasimhan, V. M., et al. (2019). The Formation of Human Populations in South and Central Asia. Science (New York, N.Y.), 365(6457).