Photo Credit: National Geographic
In fashion, rarely is anything new and trends tend to recycle themselves constantly (uh, hello again 1990′s), so, while fascinating, it’s not that surprising that the world’s oldest purse, discovered recently in a grave near Leipzig Germany that dates back to around 2,200- 2,500BC, was a clutch bag with “sequin” detail of the time.
Now, back then the Bedazzler wasn’t widely available, nor were DIY videos on how to spangle out handbag yourself. These prehistoric ladies of style had to be resourceful– they used dog teeth!
According to the original National Geographic, archaeologist Susanne Friederich believes that the teeth were outer decorations on the flap of the handbag and ”Over the years the leather or fabric disappeared, and all that’s left is the teeth. They’re all pointing in the same direction, so it looks a lot like a modern handbag flap.”
Interestingly, during these prehistoric times in northern and central Europe, dogs were considered as sacred as a woman’s favorite handbag is today. In fact, dogs were often buried with the dead and considered divine escorts. This purse discovered required the teeth of dozens of animals. Yet, with all the dog teeth found in these discovered burial grounds it is believed that dogs were just as much livestock as they were pets.
“It’s the first time we can show direct evidence of a bag like this,” Friedrich concluded.
Source: National Geographic
