PANTS

The oldest known pants have been discovered in the Yanghai graveyard in the Tarim Basin of western China. * They were found with excavation of remains of two men. It is believed that the pants are about 3,000 years old and belonged to a nomadic horseman.

The pants appear to be quite stylish, with wool straight-fitting legs with woven decorations and "a wide crotch." It is suggested that nomadic herders in Asia invented such pants so that they could more comfortably ride horses. The wide crotch was not explained.

Apparently, prior to the pants invention, Asians and Europeans got by wearing gowns, robes, tunics, togas and loin cloths. While such apparel could be seen as uncomfortable for riding on a horse, it is to be noted that native Americans commonly wore loin cloths while on their horses. Before the recent discovery, the oldest trousers found in China were about 2600 years old, and were burgundy in color.

"Pants" does not always mean the same thing to everyone. In the United Kingdom, for example, "pants" commonly means underwear, whereas "trousers" are the outerwear most people commonly call "pants." So, if touring England, best not say "I like your pants."

Interestingly, there was a 1920 British film called "Trousers." The romantic story line is described: "A woman who dresses like a man falls in love." I will not disclose the ending in case you see the movie.

Along a similar line, in 1919 a woman became the first female in Puerto Rico to wear trousers in public. Sh was jailed, but later released after the pants charges were dropped. In 2013, A French law finally was revoked which required women to get permission from city authorities before dressing like a man, including wearing trousers, except if holding bicycle handlebars or reins of a horse.

How does all this relate to water? Well, at some point, whether 3,000 years ago or even today, trousers have to be cleaned. This likely would be particularly true in older times before the invention of underwear. Therefore, one wonders how often and how pants were washed.
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*See"Earliest Pants Worn Bt Horse Riders", Science News, June 28, 2014