Clothes from the Depths of Time; The Oldest Clothes Ever Discovered in the World + Photos

According to the Saed News History Service, these clothes have an incredible age; garments sewn thousands of years ago that now rest in museums and among archaeological finds. These are the oldest clothes ever discovered by humanity — garments that are not only historically valuable but also hold secrets about ancient lifestyles, tastes, and even technologies.

1. Tarkhan Dress – Egypt
Age: Between 3482 and 3102 BCE (over 5,000 years old)
Material: Linen with a V-shaped design and delicate pleats
Discovery site: Tarkhan Cemetery, south of Cairo, Egypt
Year discovered: 1913 by Sir Flinders Petrie; identified as a dress in 1977
Current location: Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, University College London (UCL)

This dress is recognized as the oldest woven garment in the world and was dated using carbon-14 by Oxford University in 2015. It features a complex design and precise stitching, reflecting the advanced skills of weavers at the time.

2. Yanghai Trousers – China
Age: About 3300 years ago (around 1300 BCE)
Material: Wool, designed suitably for horseback riding
Discovery site: Yanghai Cemetery, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China
Year discovered: 1970s; more precise dating was done later

These trousers are considered the oldest known pants in the world, and their design indicates the need for clothing suitable for horseback riding at that time.

3. Reed Skirt – Armenia
Age: About 5900 years ago
Material: Woven reeds
Discovery site: Areni-1 Cave, Armenia
Year discovered: 2010

This skirt is one of the oldest known garments in the world, made from woven reeds and well preserved in the dry cave conditions.

4. Huldremose Woman’s Clothing – Denmark
Age: About 2300 years ago (early Iron Age)
Material: Wool and sheep skin
Discovery site: Huldremose Bog, Denmark
Year discovered: 1879

This garment was found alongside the mummified body of the Huldremose Woman in the bog, demonstrating advanced weaving skills and the use of natural dyes at that time.

5. Areni-1 Leather Shoe – Armenia
Age: About 5500 years ago
Material: Cow leather
Discovery site: Areni-1 Cave, Armenia
Year discovered: 2010

This leather shoe is recognized as the oldest known leather shoe in the world, well preserved in the dry cave conditions.

6. Romano-Egyptian Socks – Egypt
Age: About 1500 years ago
Material: Wool
Discovery site: Egypt
Year discovered: 19th century

These socks, designed specifically to be worn with sandals, show how clothing adapted to the climatic and cultural needs of the time.