The Not So Naked Ape: The Origins of Clothing

Humans are the only animals that get dressed every day. Clothing is one of our most important inventions, yet we rarely even think about it as a technology. Nina Jablonski joins us to explore when and why our ancestors started wearing clothes, and what that decision meant for our survival, our migration across the planet, and our sense of self.

Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries. Please support our work at leakeyfoundation.org/originstories.

Links to learn more:

Nina Jablonski's website

Nina Jablonski lecture on "The Evolution and Meaning of Human Skin Color"

The Oldest Sewn Hide

Origins of Clothing Lice

Blombos Cave Awls

Sewing Needles Reveal the Roots of Fashion