Thursday, July 23, 2026
Science

Silkworm cultivation predates the Silk Road in southern Central Asia, ancient cocoons suggest

The silkworm moth, whose caterpillars have been used in silk production since antiquity, may have been brought to southern Central Asia 4,000 years ago—nearly 2,000 years earlier than previously assumed—according to new research from Washington University in St. Louis.

Silkworm cultivation predates the Silk Road in southern Central Asia, ancient cocoons suggest
Image: Phys.org
The silkworm moth, whose caterpillars have been used in silk production since antiquity, may have been brought to southern Central Asia 4,000 years ago—nearly 2,000 years earlier than previously assumed—according to new research from Washington University in St. Louis.

Originally published at Phys.org

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