Waistcloths excavated from the Bronze Age Xiaohe cemetery, Lop Nur, Xinjiang

Found in the Xiaohe cemetery, Lop Nur, Xinjiang, a waistcloth is a woolen cloth tied around the waist used to protect the midsection of the body. Waistcloths are used by both males and females, but their form varies by gender. The male waistcloth is in the form of a loincloth, while those used by females are string skirts. Colors include white, yellow–brown, and brown, and these probably originate in the natural colors of the wool. Some motifs can be seen in the waistcloths, such as stripes and a ladder-shaped motif. Textiles excavated from the Xiaohe cemetery are relatively simple, and their common structures are plain, tabby, and tapestry. Distinctions in the waistcloths not only indicate gender, but also identity, position, etc.