06-04-2014, 08:11 PM
Just found-- The Oldest Pair of Trousers!
Recently, Bruce Bower wrote an article for Science News (May 30, 2014) announcing the discovery. The trousers were worn by steppe horsemen living in the Takla Makan between 1,300 and 1,000 BC (Before Chernobyl). Previous to this, the oldest pair were worn by "Cherchen Man," dyed to brick red (a favored color of the Alans).
The wool trousers were woven in a complicated design, woven to fit and not cut, and then sewn together in 3 sections. According to Barber, the looms used to create this style of clothing were identical to Celtic ones. At this time, and for centuries after, Europeans and Asians were wearing robes, chitons, and togas. The culture that produced these trousers, as well as those of Cherchen Man, were the direct ancestors of the Yue-chi and Tokarians, a culture which spoke an Indo-European centum language which was close to Greek, Italic, and Celtic. :woot:
The Yue-chi were pastoralist horsemen, primarily situated on the northern periphery of the Tarim Basin, expert horse breeders, controlled the jade trade into China, and established the southern route into India. Their nearest neighbors were the Zhou Chinese to the east and the Wusun and Saka to the west.
A pair of 3,000 year-old trousers indicates just how Cool these people were. Romans continued wearing togas, tripping over themselves when drunk, and remaining conservatives until the 5th century AD (After Dominos' [pizza]), when they broke down (socially or mentally) and accepted trousers as a "new" innovation.
If you're new to reenactment, consider becoming a Sarmatian "barbarian." And be COOL. ;-)
Recently, Bruce Bower wrote an article for Science News (May 30, 2014) announcing the discovery. The trousers were worn by steppe horsemen living in the Takla Makan between 1,300 and 1,000 BC (Before Chernobyl). Previous to this, the oldest pair were worn by "Cherchen Man," dyed to brick red (a favored color of the Alans).
The wool trousers were woven in a complicated design, woven to fit and not cut, and then sewn together in 3 sections. According to Barber, the looms used to create this style of clothing were identical to Celtic ones. At this time, and for centuries after, Europeans and Asians were wearing robes, chitons, and togas. The culture that produced these trousers, as well as those of Cherchen Man, were the direct ancestors of the Yue-chi and Tokarians, a culture which spoke an Indo-European centum language which was close to Greek, Italic, and Celtic. :woot:
The Yue-chi were pastoralist horsemen, primarily situated on the northern periphery of the Tarim Basin, expert horse breeders, controlled the jade trade into China, and established the southern route into India. Their nearest neighbors were the Zhou Chinese to the east and the Wusun and Saka to the west.
A pair of 3,000 year-old trousers indicates just how Cool these people were. Romans continued wearing togas, tripping over themselves when drunk, and remaining conservatives until the 5th century AD (After Dominos' [pizza]), when they broke down (socially or mentally) and accepted trousers as a "new" innovation.
If you're new to reenactment, consider becoming a Sarmatian "barbarian." And be COOL. ;-)
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
