As a skill, it is generally believed that felting was developed before spinning. Indeed, evidence suggests that sheep wool felts and other varieties of the material were in use thousands of years ago in a number of civilizations around the world. In Siberia, for instance, traces of felt that date back to the fifth century B.C. were found in the tomb of a nomadic tribal chief. Also, various findings indicate that early Roman and Greek soldiers utilized felt for breastplates, tunics, and socks, while common men often wore hats fabricated from the material. Today, hats continue to be one of the most popular items comprised of felt, although the material is also frequently utilized to produce slippers, drapes, apparel, bedding, and rugs, as well as insulation and packing materials.