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Archeologists Unveil 500-Year-Old Medieval Underwear And The Internet Reacts
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Archeologists Unveil 500-Year-Old Medieval Underwear And The Internet Reacts

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Mary Phelps Jacob is a big name in the history of women’s apparel. She is credited as the inventor of the modern bra, as she is the first recipient of the patent for it back in 1914. Before that, corsets were the only choice women had – well, at least that’s what they thought until now. A recent discovery from an ancient castle in Austria has proven, that bras are not exactly new age. In fact, the bras that they discovered, hidden in a vault of the castle, date back more than 500 years. This is from the same period that Leonardo Da Vinci was still walking the Earth. The discovery also revealed that not only is the undergarment older than previously thought but so is the ‘sexy’ This old-school bra were decorated with lace, proving Victoria had secrets half of a millennium ago.

The menacing-looking Langberg Castle in East Tyrol, Austria is where a spicy discovery was recently made

Image credits: Aufbauwerk der Jugend – Berufsvorbereitung Schloss Lengberg

An over 500-year-old bra was found there, in a hidden vault

Image credits: Universität Innsbruck

Even though it was not in the best condition, it’s clear that it’s similar to the modern bra

Image credits: Universität Innsbruck

The intricate piece of undergarment is far from simple, in fact, it’s decorated to add some sex appeal

Image credits: Universität Innsbruck

These panties came in a set with the bra and the lace-decorated parts are visible to the eye

Image credits: Universität Innsbruck

The pre-Victorian Secret

Image credits: Universität Innsbruck

Also, these enormous panties were found, but it’s not yet confirmed whether they were worn by women or men

Image credits: Universität Innsbruck

The findings consisted of four linen bras and it rewrote history because it was universally accepted that bras became a thing only a century ago

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Image credits: Universität Innsbruck

Some people pointed out that these pieces of underwear remind them of Raquel Welch in “One Million Years B.C”

Image credits: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation

Others shared their insights about this historical finding

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beamee avatar
dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When reading the title, I thought it was a pun (pre-Victorian era), then I saw it's not about the UK.

Load More Replies...
mebeka avatar
Rebekah
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Found in a hidden vault... there's a good story here. Whatever would cause a person to put their undies in a hidden vault. I need more info.

earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only question I have is how anyone can look at that quaint little castle and think of it as "menacing".

gfstaylor avatar
GFSTaylor
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those little 'panties' look like they may have been intended to hold rags/moss close to the vulva during periods. They would have been worn under the longer 'drawers'.

catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm thinking that wearing a bra with pads would help with milk leakage during nursing.

Load More Replies...
kcanded avatar
KCN
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those women who hate bras, have you tried wireless? When I was buying bras at first most everything had wire or plastic inserts. I cut those suckers out. Now I get wireless and they're awesome.

pandabean1 avatar
Amanda Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can only wear wireless. I've wasted far too much money trying underwire, thinking it might be easier to find bras in my size, but now they have very nice wireless bras in all sizes and designs! (Being a big person with a small chest is apparently a very unusual size.)

Load More Replies...
chenoismarie-louise avatar
Marie-Louise Chenois
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a great discover! Girls liked being sexy back in the time too....(sarcasm)

juliaw_1 avatar
minerva15
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can someone please explain that in a movie about cavemen all the women look perfectly shaved and have better hair than I do?

dohhnuttghost1 avatar
dohhnutt1 ghost
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pls can someone help with this pant and bra... i need it to safe a whole country in africa... reward it attached to it pls..

knifeofdragon avatar
Stina Kolling
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It really annoys me that archaeologists see embroidery on women's underwear and immediately think "oh it's for sex appeal". Because a woman could not possibly want something pretty for herself, no, it's only to make her prettier to men.

nkysunnyfunny avatar
Sonya Jersey
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lol, I have some of those. they're my "good and comfy" bra and period panties

parmeisan avatar
Parmeisan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I somehow doubt that 500 years ago was the first time someone thought to support their breasts in this fairly obvious way.

ugrosclaude avatar
Ula
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not buying it, there was no such tiny underwear in middle ages...

xargosss avatar
Snorri Grissomson
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.academia.edu/38136973/Enigmatic_Beauty_Headwear_of_Lengberg_Castle.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2NX2OOvZ1XVB6iKjGmQowV-GnY0Qe3MatoId76bf6yP3heynld4BHktIs

scienceinquiry avatar
Cc
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't buy it. I wonder if the patent modern bra (etc) was developed from an unraveled opportunistic find🤔 or if these were aged by fake finders 😮 The similarities are just too conveniently alike for deja vu😳 The only true test for authenticity of the age of these garments are weave pattern AND carbon dating⭐ If verified, then an investigation into Mary Jacobs and the types of connections she had AND if it can be proven (not just claimed) these garments are a genuine recent find, then this story might be considered a remarkable find rather than a dubious find😒 Just saying...

xargosss avatar
Snorri Grissomson
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is total bs it's not a bra at all, researcher know this for a long time, please do you research before sharing bs

vizbones avatar
Ben Steinberg
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, how about link to an alternative explanation? You claim it's not what they say it is but then you just walked away. An alternative source please?

Load More Replies...
scienceinquiry avatar
Cc
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ummm, I am not convinced on the authenticity of this "recent" find😒 I find it difficult to give credence to such conveniently similar garment from ~500? years apart😒 For this story to be real, verification of the garments (weave patterns AND carbon dating, by I dependent source) is absolutely required. There ere and are too many fake discoveries and finds, then and now. Is these garments are the real deal, then research into Mary Jones is necessary of her contacts, connections. Until then, this story is NOT credible, only dubious with a bucket of salt😒

bill_hadley avatar
Bill Hadley
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

If you don't like wearing bras don't frickin wear them! I don't get why women complain then still do it....

ilovethebacon avatar
Roger Haywood
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I bet he gave them a quick sniff tho. (This is a joke by the way, albeit in bad taste) ;)

amuletswimfabrics avatar
R.s. Potter
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I find this hard to believe. Also, that fabric is a bit coarse and scratchy looking.

tgeer123 avatar
TJler
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Damn this has to be the stupidest post on Bored Panda yet

beamee avatar
dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When reading the title, I thought it was a pun (pre-Victorian era), then I saw it's not about the UK.

Load More Replies...
mebeka avatar
Rebekah
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Found in a hidden vault... there's a good story here. Whatever would cause a person to put their undies in a hidden vault. I need more info.

earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only question I have is how anyone can look at that quaint little castle and think of it as "menacing".

gfstaylor avatar
GFSTaylor
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those little 'panties' look like they may have been intended to hold rags/moss close to the vulva during periods. They would have been worn under the longer 'drawers'.

catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm thinking that wearing a bra with pads would help with milk leakage during nursing.

Load More Replies...
kcanded avatar
KCN
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those women who hate bras, have you tried wireless? When I was buying bras at first most everything had wire or plastic inserts. I cut those suckers out. Now I get wireless and they're awesome.

pandabean1 avatar
Amanda Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can only wear wireless. I've wasted far too much money trying underwire, thinking it might be easier to find bras in my size, but now they have very nice wireless bras in all sizes and designs! (Being a big person with a small chest is apparently a very unusual size.)

Load More Replies...
chenoismarie-louise avatar
Marie-Louise Chenois
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a great discover! Girls liked being sexy back in the time too....(sarcasm)

juliaw_1 avatar
minerva15
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can someone please explain that in a movie about cavemen all the women look perfectly shaved and have better hair than I do?

dohhnuttghost1 avatar
dohhnutt1 ghost
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pls can someone help with this pant and bra... i need it to safe a whole country in africa... reward it attached to it pls..

knifeofdragon avatar
Stina Kolling
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It really annoys me that archaeologists see embroidery on women's underwear and immediately think "oh it's for sex appeal". Because a woman could not possibly want something pretty for herself, no, it's only to make her prettier to men.

nkysunnyfunny avatar
Sonya Jersey
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lol, I have some of those. they're my "good and comfy" bra and period panties

parmeisan avatar
Parmeisan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I somehow doubt that 500 years ago was the first time someone thought to support their breasts in this fairly obvious way.

ugrosclaude avatar
Ula
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not buying it, there was no such tiny underwear in middle ages...

xargosss avatar
Snorri Grissomson
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.academia.edu/38136973/Enigmatic_Beauty_Headwear_of_Lengberg_Castle.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2NX2OOvZ1XVB6iKjGmQowV-GnY0Qe3MatoId76bf6yP3heynld4BHktIs

scienceinquiry avatar
Cc
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't buy it. I wonder if the patent modern bra (etc) was developed from an unraveled opportunistic find🤔 or if these were aged by fake finders 😮 The similarities are just too conveniently alike for deja vu😳 The only true test for authenticity of the age of these garments are weave pattern AND carbon dating⭐ If verified, then an investigation into Mary Jacobs and the types of connections she had AND if it can be proven (not just claimed) these garments are a genuine recent find, then this story might be considered a remarkable find rather than a dubious find😒 Just saying...

xargosss avatar
Snorri Grissomson
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is total bs it's not a bra at all, researcher know this for a long time, please do you research before sharing bs

vizbones avatar
Ben Steinberg
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, how about link to an alternative explanation? You claim it's not what they say it is but then you just walked away. An alternative source please?

Load More Replies...
scienceinquiry avatar
Cc
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ummm, I am not convinced on the authenticity of this "recent" find😒 I find it difficult to give credence to such conveniently similar garment from ~500? years apart😒 For this story to be real, verification of the garments (weave patterns AND carbon dating, by I dependent source) is absolutely required. There ere and are too many fake discoveries and finds, then and now. Is these garments are the real deal, then research into Mary Jones is necessary of her contacts, connections. Until then, this story is NOT credible, only dubious with a bucket of salt😒

bill_hadley avatar
Bill Hadley
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

If you don't like wearing bras don't frickin wear them! I don't get why women complain then still do it....

ilovethebacon avatar
Roger Haywood
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I bet he gave them a quick sniff tho. (This is a joke by the way, albeit in bad taste) ;)

amuletswimfabrics avatar
R.s. Potter
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I find this hard to believe. Also, that fabric is a bit coarse and scratchy looking.

tgeer123 avatar
TJler
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Damn this has to be the stupidest post on Bored Panda yet

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