Humans Started Making Clothes At Least 120,000 Years Ago, Say Scientists

Researchers have come across evidence that hints that humans have been making and wearing clothes for the past 120,000 years.

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This is according to a study conducted by Dr Emily Hallet from the Max Planck Institute for Science Of Human History in Germany who has discovered in Morocco, bone tools and bones from skinned animals dating back 120,000 years hinting their use for making clothes.

As per the study, Hallet and her colleagues reveal how they analysed animal bones excavated from the Contrebandiers Cave on the Atlantic Coast of Morocco -- a process that was undertaken in a series of digs that spanned several decades. Previous digs have revealed the remains of early humans.

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Hallet had been analysing the animal bones from the dig site since 2012, as she was at the time working on better understanding the diet of humans then and the gradual changes, if any associated with the advent of stone tools.

However, she along with her team came across 62 bones from layers dating between 90,000 to 120,000 years that showed signs of being used as tools. Even though researchers couldn¡¯t really figure out the purpose of several tools, they found broad rounded-end objects dubbed spatulates that were made from bovid ribs.

According to the researchers, they were probably used for scraping and removing internal connective tissues from leathers while making fur or hides. They also found bones of sandfox, golden jackal and wildcat.

Max Planck Institute for the Science Of Human History

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Hallet highlighted that even though the bone tools could have been used to prepare leather for other applications, there is strong evidence that suggests it was used to make fur, indicating early humans made clothes.

They still don¡¯t know if the outfits were made out of a particular purpose or were symbolic for something, as well as how they actually looked. However, she feels it gave humans an edge for their survival.

Hallet concluded stating, ¡°Clothing and the expanded toolkits of early humans are likely parts of the package that led to the adaptive success of humans and our ability to succeed globally and in climatically extreme regions.¡±

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