Researchers working for the German Archaeological Institute have unearthed the remains of two men wearing wool pants in the Yanghai graveyard in Tarim Basin, China.

The trousers are believed to have existed for 3,000 to 3,300 years already and are considered the world's oldest pants, initially introduced by nomadic horsemen, according to Shanghaiist.

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Based on reports published by Science News, the ancient wool trousers have straight-cut legs and a wide crotch. A group headed by archaeologists Mayke Wagner and Ulrike Beck from the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin said the garment looks similar to the riding pants being worn in modern times.

Science News also said the discovery of the ancient pants support previous research that suggest pants were invented by Central Asian nomadic herders to give horseback riders a protective garment. The May 22 Quaternary International write-up added that the trousers also allowed them to move freely during their journeys and warfare.

According to University of Pennsylvania linguist and China authority Victor Mair, the discovery of the trouser-clad remains further strengthens the idea that the clothing's primary purpose was for horse riding of mobile pastoralists. The wool pants were also introduced to the Tarim Basin by horseback riders.

Human remains unearthed in Europe and Asia have previously been found clad in gowns, tunics, togas, robes, loincloth, or leggings. Other types of trousers that have been discovered in Tarim Basin are estimated to be 2,600 years old.

The pants that the researchers from Germany found used three pieces of cloth sewn together with pant sections deliberately shaped on a loom for a certain size. The maker of the pants apparently did not do any cutting on the garment.

The ancient pants also have slits on the sides and strings for fastening the waist as well as the woven designs on the pant legs.