The surprising, somewhat gross way scientists track the origins of human clothing
In short: Archaeologists struggle to find ancient garments, as the oldest known example is the Tarkhan Dress. To determine when humans first began wearing clothes, researchers look to an unexpected and unglamorous source of evidence.
Because fabric decomposes rapidly, physical evidence of early clothing is rare. The Tarkhan Dress remains the oldest discovered garment, leaving a massive gap in our understanding of when humans transitioned from being naked to clothed.
To bridge this gap, scientists turn to unconventional biological markers. By studying the evolution of specific parasites that rely on clothing, researchers can estimate when humans began wearing garments, providing a window into our ancestors' lives that traditional archaeology cannot reach.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: When Did We Stop Being Naked?
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