Materials. Mesopotamian sculptures, reliefs, and cylinder seals show that clothing was worn for modesty and protection against the elements, as well as to indicate status. In these surviving artworks men are shown more often than women and children, and members of the elite are depicted more often than workers. The first information about clothing comes from the end of the fourth and the beginning of the third millennia B.C.E. with the beginning of sculpture and writing. During this period some garments appear to have been made of dressed animal skins, including sheep, goat, and leopard. Sheep wool and goat hair were spun into yarns that were woven into cloth; linen was made from flax. Low-quality felt made from sheep or goat wool was used for shoes, linings, and cushions. By the middle of the third millennium B.C.E., the...