From the Stone Age to the latest fashion trends, let’s find out how clothes have evolved over the years.The Stone age was the earliest and first time when humans started making implements from stone. This period, also known as the Paleolithic age or the Paleolithic period, can be divided into the Lower or Paleolithic era, the Middle or Mesolithic era, and the Upper or Neolithic period.The Paleolithic period started about 4.5 million years ago and lasted till 8000 B.C. It was the most extended period in the Stone Age. The people of this time period made implements by chipping stones and pebbles.Historians have been able to study this period of human history through cave drawings and other evidence discovered from the period. Choppers made from stone are the oldest recognizable tools found from this era. The Stone Age marked its end when people started smelting metals.The people of this time can be divided into tool makers or Homo habilis, fire-makers or Homo erectus, Neanderthals or Homo neanderthalensis, and modern humans or Homo sapiens. It was the Neanderthals that first started using animal fur to keep warm during cold weather.The Homo sapiens of the Lower Paleolithic period were believed to have worn simple loincloths. With the development of tools and implements, humans of the Upper period started wearing animal hides and vegetation.In addition to the numerous cave paintings that have been found, animal bones and parts found at these sites indicate that our early human ancestors wore the furs of animals as a protective covering. The tail and paw bones in the skeletal remains that have been found are most often missing. This could be because these parts would be removed while skinning the animal as they make it easier to tie the hide around the body.Genetic analysis of louse, which lives on the body and on clothing, suggests that it may have evolved from head louse about 170,000 years ago. This is also an indicator that prehistoric people started wearing some form of clothing around this time. The main characteristics of the Upper Paleolithic era were that the humans were nomadic. They depended on their surroundings for their food. Paleolithic men were hunters whereas, most of the women were gatherers. These Homo sapiens used simple tools. A record of what they did and achieved can be seen in cave paintings and drawings that are still visible today. Paleolithic people also learned how to build a fire and buried their dead, as they believed in life after death.Since ancient times, animal hides have been used for clothing, to make shelters, and also as a medium for writing. It should be noted that prehistoric people didn’t have any negative notions of nakedness and nudity as some people do in modern times. Clothing evolved as a means of protection from rough surfaces, insect bites, and more. It also played a key role in protecting them against the weather, be it heat or cold. In addition to clothing, people of this prehistoric time also wore shoes made from a single piece of leather. The second oldest shoe to be found was of Otzi the Ice Man, who lived during the Stone Age. Jewelry made of shells was also fairly common at this time.Once you have finished reading this article, why not check out these fun facts articles on Paleolithic age tools and Paleolithic houses.The Ongoing Evolution Of ClothingAs mammals, we humans are quite distinctive. Firstly, although we might have some hair on our bodies, we are not covered in fur like other animals. Therefore we’re required to protect ourselves from the weather through other means, for example by wearing a variety of garments that protect against the cold or heat. This is especially true for the Pleistocene Era or Ice Age. Cave drawings and other evidence found by archaeologists show that early Homo sapiens wore clothing and identified the different types of tools used to make them.According to evidence, human beings would have started wearing garments about 500,000 years ago to protect themselves from the cold of the Ice Age. We are the only mammals to wear clothes, and Paleolithic garments were made from animal skin and vegetation, such as leaves. This has been depicted in cave paintings of the Upper Paleolithic period estimated to be about 30,000 years old.Clothing over the years has also evolved from simple to complex. Loose single-layer pieces of animal hide are known as simple clothes. These hides and skins were held together with strips like straps or belts.Complex clothes, on the other hand, have multiple layers and are tailored to fit the body. These kinds of garments were used to conceal parts of the body and are an indicator that clothing has become important for reasons other than to keep warm in cold weather.In addition to the techniques used in making clothes, garments also evolved due to the discovery of textiles. Samples and depictions of early textiles have been found around the world; some of these examples are the Guitarrero Cave paintings in Peru, South America, and Israel. These Paleolithic clothes were made from vegetable fibers.The Development Of Clothing In Different ClimatesScientists have traced the first human origins to Africa. However, the early hominids started moving out of Africa more than 2 million years ago with human evolution. Hence, they started experiencing new weather conditions and the cold climate of Europe and parts of Asia. So the need for warmer attire arose. As items of clothing are prone to decomposition, early evidence of the first clothes that were worn by Paleolithic people can be inferred from the stone and wood tools that have been discovered around the world. These implements were used to prepare the animal hide so that they could be worn.Even before they moved out of Africa and the start of the Ice Age, the need for simple outfits would have arisen. This is because the winter temperatures in southern Africa, along with the wind chill would have made it necessary for these early humans to have some protection.Stone implements used to clean animal hide, known as scrapers, have been found in various parts of the world from northern China, to western Europe and parts of Africa. The Inuit tribes of the Arctic area make and use garments that are quite similar to those used in the Stone Age. Seal skins and fur are also made into garments using similar stone tools.Some of the early humans that lived in warm tropical climates might not have worn animal hide or covering at all. To protect themselves from the sun and thorns from bushes or trees, they could have used mud or charcoal on their bodies. Bodypaint is still quite prevalent and in use among a few remote tribal communities of Africa. Some tribes haven’t experienced any significant changes to their way of life since Paleolithic times.The way of life for some tribes in South America and in the jungles of Papua New Guinea has also remained unchanged since the Paleolithic time. Similar to early men, these people also wear loincloths or sheaths.The Development Of Simple Clothes Using ToolsIn the Stone Age, garments were made from the skins of animals using basic tools such as scrapers. To clean the skin or hide after it was separated from the animal carcass, scraping implements were used. As most humans were hunter-gatherers, they sometimes used shells that they had collected, particularly for tribes that lived or stayed in or near marine or coastal areas. However, the most common scraper tool that has been found by archaeologists was made from stone.During the Stone Age, the hunters were said to target animals such as cave lions, wolves, arctic foxes, wallabies, and mole rats as their furry skins could be used to make simple garments that would protect them from the cold. These were often just wrapped around the body for warmth.Some implements that have been found in various cave sites could have been used as both a scraper and a blade. Although it’s difficult to make a distinction based on shape alone, scientists are of the opinion that some triangular points could have been used as both a blade and a scraper. Also, these sharp objects would have other uses as well such as killing an animal or woodworking.The Introduction Of Complex Clothing TechnologiesIn the Old Stone Age, clothing was a fur blanket or skin that was just wrapped around the body. Early human beings often chewed the hides to make the skin more flexible. However, as clothing needs evolved and changed, in addition to scrapers, extra devices and implements were needed. Hence, in the New Stone Age, implements to cut the skins and hides into different shapes, such as rectangles or squares, were used. Often implements were also used to join these pieces together. Some of the tools that were used include:Blades. In the Paleolithic Era, animal hides could be cut using a stone tool known as a scraper. A long sharp edge stone scraper was used. These looked very similar to the blades of today. The ability to cut animal skins helped these people to move to colder areas.Piercing implements. These were used to hold or sew together the cut pieces. Known as awls, they were made from the long bones of animals that could be easily shaped as needed. The thinner and finer awls are what we call sewing needles today. The earliest examples of bone awls that have been found in South Africa are said to have been used between 72,000 and 84,000 years ago.In the Old Stone Age, people wore thick animal furs as it was waterproof and could keep them warm in the cold weather. Towards the end of this time, needles made from the bones and antlers of animals were made. Hence, the clothing worn was a type of tunic, that was stitched at the shoulders and had a hole for the head. The upper part of this garment was loose around the body and it was tied around the waist with a strip of animal skin.In the middle or Mesolithic period, the climate became warmer and thick furs were swapped for lighter animal hides and leather to make garments. Vegetation such as nettles might have been used as thread to stitch various types of garments such as skirts and trousers. Due to the warm weather, people might not have worn shoes and walked about barefoot.In the New Stone Age, people learned how to weave. They also learned how to dye their outfits using vegetable and plant dyes.The Development Of Clothing As FashionFrom animal skin, vegetation, and bark worn by those of the Stone Age to the modern garments we wear today, clothing has come a long way. Let’s take a look at the history of clothing.As mentioned earlier, homo sapiens began wearing animal hide and coverings made from vegetation to protect their bodies when they started moving out of Africa. Sewing needles dating back 50,000 years have been found in Denisova Cave in Siberia. Needles have also been found in other parts of the world such as Russia, China, France, and Spain.Dyed flax fibers dating back 36,000 years have been found in caves in Georgia. Archaeologists have also found textiles, nets, spindle needles, and more from around 5,000 BC. After animal skins, the first textiles to be sewn together were said to be felt.The development of looms was a key factor in the history of clothing. Looms such as the warp-weighted looms that were used in Ancient Greece and two-beam looms helped boost textile production. In classical Greece, wide, unsewn lengths of fabric were draped or pinned in different ways. This can be seen in pictures or depictions of many Roman goddesses.In early medieval Europe, the lower classes wore undyed, homespun wool, whereas the upper classes dressed in elaborate garments.Clothing styles were still very simple for both men and women in 12th and 13th century Europe. As the popularity of dyeing increased, wool became a favorite option for outerwear. The returning crusaders brought silk and other fine textiles with them.During the time of the Renaissance, wool, linen and hemp were all popular fabrics. Silks and velvets were known and easily available in the Mediterranean.In the 15th century, as wealth grew, the middle class in the urban areas started wearing and following outfit styles set by the elite.By the 16th century, the styles in England, France, and Italy were different from those in Germany and Scandinavia. Black was a preferred choice for formal occasions. Design and style elements such as the bobbin lace and ruff were incorporated into the garments being worn.With the Industrial Revolution, textile production increased rapidly. The introduction of sewing machines was another important invention in the history of clothing. Invented in the 19th century, these machines triggered the rise of the ready-made clothing industry.By the 20th century, there was a big demand for garments. The invention of synthetic fibers such as nylon, spandex, and polyester between 1930 and 1970 helped meet this demand. These fibers can be knitted and woven just like natural ones.Today, clothing has become a big business and a necessary part of our daily human life. As of 2016, the largest exporters of apparel were China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.It’s interesting that the history of clothing is so closely linked to the evolution of us humans. Based on developments in technology, new machinery, and new materials, we’ve discovered new ways to create clothing for fashion and practicality. The weather has continued to play a large role in the type of clothing we wear.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our facts about Paleolithic clothing, then why not take a look at Paleolithic age facts or Paleolithic age inventions.
From the Stone Age to the latest fashion trends, let’s find out how clothes have evolved over the years.
