The 20 Oldest Pieces of Clothing Ever Discovered

This small piece of sewn moosehide, from Oregon, is older than almost all the other items on this list, dating back approximately 12,600 to 11,880 years. It is not yet known for certain what kind of garment it was, but the stitches show that people at that time already knew how to work with hide with great skill.

The sandals from Fort Rock, Oregon, date back approximately 10,400 to 9,100 years and are generally considered the oldest directly dated footwear ever discovered. Made from woven sage bark and other plant fibers, they demonstrate that ancient footwear could be well-crafted, durable, and practical—and was not limited to simple, roughly wrapped coverings for the feet.

The sandals discovered in Arnold Research Cave in Missouri date back approximately 8,325 to 7,675 years. They are part of a long series of ancient footwear remains found in this cave, which show that the peoples of prehistoric North America made shoes from plant fibers for thousands of years, adapting the materials to walking, weather conditions, and terrain.

These esparto sandals, which originated in southern Spain, date back about 6,200 years and are considered the oldest known shoes in Europe. Discovered alongside other objects woven from plant fibers, they bear witness to the skill early communities demonstrated in transforming sturdy local grasses into clothing.

The leather sandals discovered in the “Warrior’s Cave” in the Judean Desert date back to the early 4th millennium BCE. They were found in a burial site alongside other fragile organic objects, which makes them particularly valuable, since leather, textiles, mats, and baskets rarely survive together for such a long time.

This fragment of a skirt made of reed or straw, found in Armenia, dates back to around 3900 BCE. Preserved in a limestone cave, this skirt fragment is one of the very earliest examples of textile craftsmanship.

The leather shoe from Areni-1, dated between 3627 and 3377 BCE, is one of the oldest complete leather shoes ever discovered. It is made from a single piece of cowhide and fastens with leather laces.

Tarkhan’s dress, which originated in Egypt, dates from a period between 3482 and 3102 BCE and is one of the oldest known fitted woven garments in the world. Made of linen, it features sleeves, pleats, and a V-neckline, proving that people in ancient times did not simply wear garments wrapped around their bodies.

Ötzi, the Iceman, died in the Alps around 3300 BCE, wearing a coat made of sheep and goat skins sewn together. The coat had been mended, which proves that he had worn it extensively throughout his life.

Ötzi’s leg coverings were made primarily of goatskin and worn separately to cover his legs. They likely matched his belt, shoes, loincloth, and coat, forming a layered outfit perfectly suited to rugged, damp, and cold terrain.

The sheepskin loincloth worn by Ötzi is one of the most intimate garments to have survived from the Copper Age. It demonstrates that his outfit consisted of several layers—including undergarments, leg coverings, an outer garment, shoes, and a hat—all of which formed a cohesive ensemble.

Ötzi’s shoes were made of leather, hide, plant fibers, and grass padding, arranged in carefully layered sections. They were designed for cold weather, with each layer providing structure, insulation, flexibility, and protection.

Ötzi’s cap was made of brown bear fur, which sets it apart from most of his other clothing, which was made from the hides of domestic animals. It was undoubtedly warm, durable, and hard to miss, although we cannot know whether it also held personal significance or symbolized a certain status.

The Schnidejoch leggings, found in the Swiss Alps, date from a period between 2915 and 2627 BCE and were made of goatskin. Their resemblance to the garment worn by Ötzi suggests that these separate leather leggings may have been part of a broader Alpine clothing tradition.

The Giza beaded mesh dress dates back to the Egyptian Old Kingdom, between 2551 and 2528 BCE. Its thousands of faience beads were likely worn over or attached to a linen base, transforming this garment into a piece that rippled, shimmered, and symbolized social status.

This Egyptian dress made of beaded netting, dating from around 2400 BCE, was reconstructed using faience beads and seashells. The shell fringe likely swayed or made a sound as the wearer walked or danced, giving this garment a sense of life beyond the tomb where it was found.

The “Egtved Girl” was buried in Denmark in 1370 BCE; she was wearing a short woolen tunic, a corded skirt, and a wide belt disc. Her outfit is one of the most recognizable from the Nordic Bronze Age, partly because it appears to have been crafted with great care.

The Muldbjerg Man was buried in western Jutland around 1365 BCE; he was wearing a knee-length woolen coat, a leather belt, a woolen cloak, and bandages on his feet. This attire reflects the importance that wool had come to hold in Northern Europe, particularly for layered clothing suited to a colder climate.

The elderly man from Borum Eshøj was buried in 1351 BCE, dressed in a woolen ensemble consisting of a cloak, a kilt-like garment, socks, a belt, and a rounded hat. Since many of these items were found together, this burial offers a rare glimpse into Bronze Age clothing.

The pair of pants discovered in the Yanghai Cemetery in China’s Tarim Basin dates back about 3,000 years and is often considered the oldest known pair of pants. Made of woven wool and likely designed for horseback riding, they are evidence of a garment suited for movement, travel, and life on the steppe.