RomanArmyTalk

I thought this may be of interest here

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/firs...-years-ago


I like how the pattern is a woven part of the leg rather than an applied design.

Interesting Dave.

Suhel

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. ;-)

Oh! And here they are... in dead color. illy:

Thanks Alan! That is waaaay cool..

I've no idea why this ended up in rules and announcements as I tried to post it in allies and enemies section.

Never mind - I already moved into another thread about the same subject.

Here's the image BTW:

Thanks, Dave G, for finding the article and photo, and everyone else for getting it where it should be. I thought the link would die a quick and natural death under "Rules and Announcements," so paraphrased Bower's story and tried to get the picture into Allies & Enemies. Considering their age, these steppe trousers are sophisticated... and I imagine they were colorful before fading. Who said barbarians wore rags? :whistle:

Quote: T... Who said barbarians wore rags? :whistle:

Have you tried riding in woollen trousers?!!! :wink:

What about the leather ones from Valkenberg?

Quote:Have you tried riding in woollen trousers?!!! :wink:

No, I'm allergic to wool. But they probably were handy in the winter, even in the Tarim.

Quote:What about the leather ones from Valkenberg?

They make your groin sweat. And that cuts down on human reproduction. :-P

Ibex skin was popular for clothing on the Steppes according to OMH.

Yes, ibex skin-- like deerskin-- can be tanned into a pliant and soft leather, ideal for clothing.