Correct Option
The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) is one of the earliest civilizations known to have cultivated cotton and produced textiles. Archaeological evidence for textile production relies heavily on non-perishable tools used in the process, as organic materials like cloth rarely survive the passage of time.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Excavations at various Indus sites have yielded a large number of spindles and spindle whorls made of terracotta, faience, and shell. The widespread availability of these tools in households suggests that spinning cotton and wool was a common activity among the people.
- Statement 2 is Correct: There is no evidence of spinning wheels (charkha) being depicted on Indus seals. The spinning wheel is a much later invention, generally believed to have been introduced to India during the medieval period (around the 14th century). In the IVC, spinning was done by hand using drop spindles.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: While the IVC is credited with being one of the first centers for cotton cultivation, preserved cotton cloth is extremely rare due to the perishable nature of organic fibers in the humid Indian subcontinent. Traces of cotton cloth were found preserved at Mohenjo-daro (specifically attached to a silver vase due to metal salts preventing decay), but it is certainly not found in all graves.
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway: The primary evidence for spinning in the Indus Valley Civilization comes from the abundance of spindle whorls. The spinning wheel was not known in ancient India, and actual cloth fragments are rare archaeological finds.