Buzz
It’s a long-standing mystery for Donald Duck: Who decided pants were a necessity? Was the driving factor simply modesty, or was there another underlying reason for the rise of trousers?
Author Sarah Scoles provides a compelling theory, referencing a 2014 archaeological discovery in China’s Tarim Basin. A team from the German Archaeological Institute unearthed what’s thought to be the oldest known pair of pants, crafted from wool and dating back over 3000 years.
While the pants themselves didn’t offer direct insight into their purpose, their placement did. The discovery was made at the Yanghai cemetery, alongside various other items, including horse-riding equipment like a wooden bit, a bow, and an axe. The wearer of these pants was likely someone whose job involved riding horses and hunting—requiring attire that wouldn’t hinder movement during such activities.
This idea eventually made its way into Greek and Roman society, where those who rode horses looked for a comfortable and functional solution to prevent chafing. (The proto-pants found in the grave seemed to be an early nod to fashion too. While largely practical, the legs featured cross-stitching that appeared to serve a decorative purpose.)
Whether the Yanghai discovery is truly the oldest pair of pants depends on one’s definition of pants. Ötzi, the European iceman discovered in 1991, lived around 5300 years ago and was found wearing goatskin leggings. We know a cartoon duck who has some catching up to do.
