German archaeologists say two pairs of pants unearthed in a tomb in China could represent the oldest examples of such garments ever discovered.
Evidence of the earliest use of trousers with separate legs was found in an ancient graveyard in the country's Tarim Basin and dated to around 3,000 years ago, they say.
The pants were found on the remains of two males, thought to be herders or warriors about 40 years old when they died, uncovered in a Yanghai graveyard.
The likelihood of their being warriors who rode on horseback would suggest pants were developed to facilitate that, the researchers from the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin wrote in the journal Quaternary International.
"Together with horse gear and weapons as grave goods in both tombs, our results specify former assumptions that the invention of bifurcated lower body garments is related to the new epoch of horseback riding, mounted warfare and greater mobility," researchers Mayke Wagner and Irike Beck wrote.
Prior to horseback riding becoming a prominent means of transport, most people wore robes or skirts, the researchers said, meaning long periods of riding could create discomfort and skin irritation.
Three independently woven pieces of wool were used to create the pants, they said, a rectangular piece for each leg from waist to ankle and a cross-shaped piece for the crotch.
Each pair also had a belt woven out of strings.
A replica pair of pants made to the pattern of the Yanghai examples proved unsuitable for walking long distances, the researchers said, suggesting the use of a wide crotch piece hanging lower than on typical trousers was a specific modification for horseback riding.
"During normal movements the inner parts of the legs, the crotch and the lower abdomen are not exposed to friction over an extended period of time," Wagner said. "This only becomes an issue when straddling a horse daily."
The level of custom tailoring on the pants -- the fabric was not cut but rather shaped during the weaving process to fit a particular person -- suggests the creation of pants had matured by the time the Yanghai men were fitted for theirs, they said.
The design is similar to modern riding pants, they noted.
Along with the trousers, wooden riding gear, a battle-ax, a bow and a whip were found with the remains.
More than 500 individual tombs have been excavated to date at the Yanghai Tombs, an extensive ancient burial ground dating back thousands of years. The hot and dry climate in western China helps preserve clothing and other artifacts.
