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Tarkhan Dress, Found in 1913, Reveals Sophisticated Sewing and Decoration Techniques in Egypt Long Before the First Pharaohs
During excavations at the Tarkhan necropolis in Egypt, British archaeologist Sir Flinders Petrie discovered, in 1913, a piece that would only decades later reveal its historical significance: a linen tunic over five thousand years old. Now known as the Tarkhan Dress, it is considered the oldest identified fabric garment.
The find occurred in a cemetery located south of Cairo, an archaeological area of great relevance for the study of Ancient Egypt.
The piece was discovered inside a tomb that, according to archaeologists, had already been looted previously—a common practice at sites in the region. For some reason, the thieves left the fabric behind, which ended up preserved and stored in the museum.
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Decades after the discovery, in the 1970s, the item underwent more detailed analysis. It was at this moment that its importance was confirmed: the dress had been made around 3100 BC, exactly during the transition period between pre-dynastic Egypt and the beginning of the pharaohs’ era.
The piece is currently displayed at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London. Although not completely preserved, it is still possible to observe its original characteristics.
The very fine linen has deteriorated in some parts, and therefore, restorers added transparent fabrics to support the garment.
Despite the damage, details such as the pleating on the sleeves remain visible, indicating that decorative techniques were already applied to clothing over five millennia ago.
The cut of the piece, although incomplete, suggests that it was a long tunic, rather than just a short blouse.
Researchers could not precisely determine the original size, but estimate that the piece would have been worn by a teenager or a small-statured woman.
The Tarkhan Dress is now one of the most impressive pieces of evidence of the textile skill of the ancient Egyptians. And it all began with a find that initially went unnoticed.
With information from Super Interessante.
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