When fur was the height of fashion – 120,000 years ago

RESEARCHERS have found evidence that humans began wearing clothes 120,000 years ago.

Skinning animals so they could wear their pelts was vital for ancient humans, allowing them to leave Africa for colder places and spread across the planet.

Archaeologists have discovered 62 animal bones shaped as tools in a cave in Morocco, including ribs made into spatulas – likely used to scrape tissue from pelt.

Further evidence came from the skeletal remains of wildcats, with cuts on their fore limbs and hind limbs. These are consistent with the skin having been removed from the animals’ paws before being pulled over their head to produce a complete fur.

German researcher Dr Emily Hallett said the bones were the earliest archaeological evidence of humans making garments, which cannot be found with fossils, as organic clothing degrades over time.