Ancient Sewn Clothing Unearthed in Oregon Caves Challenges Historical Timeline
In a groundbreaking discovery that could fundamentally reshape our understanding of early human civilization, researchers have unearthed the oldest known pieces of sewn clothing from caves in Oregon, dating back approximately 12,000 years to the end of the last Ice Age. This remarkable find suggests that humans in North America possessed sophisticated crafting skills thousands of years before the construction of Egypt's Great Pyramid.
Preserved Artifacts Reveal Advanced Ice Age Technology
The collection of ancient items, made from materials that typically decompose over time, was exceptionally preserved in several dry caves within Oregon's northern Great Basin region. Until now, scholars believed early humans in what is now the United States were simple hunter-gatherers. However, these artifacts provide the best-preserved evidence of advanced technology, including sewn clothing, twined baskets, and wooden hunting traps.
Archaeologist Richard Rosencrance from the University of Nevada led a team that excavated 55 crafted items derived from 15 different plant and animal species. Many of these relics, according to Rosencrance, were definitively identified as either clothing or footwear. This discovery fills crucial gaps in historical knowledge, demonstrating that Ice Age populations in North America were innovative and adaptable, utilizing everyday materials in intelligent ways during the period preceding the Holocene Epoch.
Key Sites and Remarkable Findings
The primary discoveries originated from Cougar Mountain Cave in southern Oregon, where researchers found the oldest sewn animal hide alongside numerous braided cords, intricate knots, wooden trap components, and baskets. Additional ancient fibers, including twisted plant cords, potential twined structures, and some of the earliest bone needles used for sewing, were uncovered at Paisley Caves in central Oregon.
Nearby sites such as Connley Caves and Tule Lake Rockshelter also yielded fine eyed bone needles from the same Ice Age period, indicating highly skilled sewing techniques. These caves served as primary shelters for early hunter-gatherer groups who migrated following food sources 12,000 years ago.
Historical Context and Modern Analysis
The artifacts from Cougar Mountain Cave were initially excavated in 1958 by amateur archaeologist John Cowles. Following his death in the 1980s, his collection was donated to the Favell Museum in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where it has been preserved ever since. In contrast, items from Paisley Caves, Connley Caves, and other locations were professionally excavated over the years and are now housed in university museums or research collections across Oregon.
Rosencrance's study, published in the journal Science Advances, re-examined these historical collections using modern laboratory techniques, including radiocarbon dating, to confirm the age and sophistication of the finds. Other artifacts discovered in the caves included meticulously carved wood and bone tools, as well as traps designed for hunting.
Detailed Examination of the Sewn Clothing
The sewn garments, which likely included coats and footwear, utilized local plants as laces and bindings, showcasing advanced crafting skills during the Ice Age. Among the newly dated items was a piece of elk hide that had been cleaned, de-haired, and stitched with cord made from plant fibers and animal hair. Researchers believe this was part of a tight-fitting coat, shoe, or bag, making it the oldest example of sewn hide ever discovered.
Additional findings included strips of bison hide, possibly used as strings or ties, and dozens of braided or twisted ropes crafted from plants such as sagebrush bark, dogbane, and rush. These ropes were likely employed for various purposes, from sewing to securing objects. Some were knotted or woven into simple baskets or mats, representing the oldest known examples of ancient American craftsmanship unearthed to date.
Broader Implications for Human History
This revelation from Oregon marks another significant example of sophisticated human societies thriving in present-day United States territory long before the rise of ancient Egyptian civilization. In January, another research team discovered previously unknown wooden canoes at the bottom of a Wisconsin lake, which also predated the pyramids by hundreds of years. Together, these findings challenge conventional historical narratives and highlight the complexity and ingenuity of early human communities in North America.
