What's Happening?
Archaeologists have discovered what could be the oldest known sewn clothing in the world, dating back approximately 12,000 years. Found in the Cougar Mountain Cave in Oregon, the artifacts consist of two strips of elk hide from the Late Pleistocene era.
These findings suggest that early North American inhabitants possessed advanced seamstress skills long before the construction of the Egyptian pyramids. The garments were bound with chord made from animal hide, and bone needles were also found at the site, indicating the use of sophisticated sewing techniques. While researchers cannot definitively confirm the items as clothing, they could represent the oldest known physical remains of sewn hide. This discovery provides insight into how ancient humans adapted to the harsh conditions of the Younger Dryas epoch, a period marked by global cooling.
Why It's Important?
The discovery of these ancient garments highlights the ingenuity and adaptability of early human societies in North America. It suggests that these communities developed complex technologies for survival in extreme climates, such as sewing tight-fitting clothing to retain body heat. This find also contributes to our understanding of human cultural evolution, emphasizing the role of clothing not only as a means of survival but also as a social and cultural mechanism. The ability to create sewn garments would have been crucial for humans living in cold environments, allowing them to thrive in regions that would otherwise be uninhabitable.
