Archaeologists have uncovered 12,000-year-old elk hide scraps in Oregon that may represent the oldest known sewn clothing, dating to the Late Pleistocene.

The hides were bound with animal-hide cord and may have been stitched using bone needles found at the site, though they could also have been part of a bag or shelter.

If confirmed as clothing, the find shows that early North Americans had advanced sewing skills far earlier than previously documented, helping them survive the frigid Younger Dryas period.

Tight-fitting sewn garments would have provided insulation without restricting movement, highlighting the role of clothing in human adaptation to extreme climates, the New York Post has reported.

The discovery also underscores clothing’s cultural and social significance in addition to its practical function, shedding light on early human ingenuity.