A few scraps of long-forgotten elk hide tucked away in an Oregon museum have turned out to be important artifacts. Researchers now believe the hides, which date back to the end of the last Ice Age, are the oldest known examples of sewn items.

Amateur archeologist John Cowles found the hides in 1958 while exploring the Cougar Mountain Cave in Oregon. They remained in his private collection until he died in 1985. The artifacts were then given to the Favell Museum in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where they remained unnoticed for decades. It was only recently that Richard Rosencrance and his team at the University of Nevada, Reno decided to take a closer look.

For their study, the scientists examined 55 items made from 15 different plant and animal types. These included the elk hides from Cowles’s collection, as well as bone needles, braided cords, and knotted fiber from the nearby Paisley Caves. Using carbon dating, the team confirmed that all the items were from the Younger Dryas. This was a brief, but intense, cold period at the end of the last Ice Age. It lasted from about 12,900 to 11,700 years ago.

The researchers published their findings in the journal Science Advances on February 4, 2026. They believe the early Indigenous people were skilled at sewing. The hides show clear stitching where the cord passed from one piece to another. This indicated intentional tailoring rather than random damage. The scraps may have been part of clothing, footwear, or even a bag, showing that sewing was widely practiced. The decorative touches on the hides suggests that these Ice Age cave dwellers also cared about style.

The scientists say discoveries like this are extremely rare. Organic materials such as hides and plant fibers usually decay within a few centuries. Fortunately, the dry conditions in the caves helped preserve these precious artifacts, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of early Indigenous people.

Resources: Smithsonian.edu, Livescience.com, Gizmondo.com