There have been some intriguing random clothing finds in UK archaeology just lately - the "oldest known shoe" in a tree stump for one. And just came across a reference to an interestingly named research area called "Deliberately Concealed Garments" see http://www.concealedgarments.org

It appears in today's International Herald Tribune, in a feature about the work of textile conservationists at Winchester School of Art in the UK.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/07/features/blume.php

The Deliberately Concealed Garments research group has been running at Winchester since 1998, and it's mounting an exhibition that will tour Britain from July.

As Blume explains: "The custom of hiding garments, particularly shoes, is little known but has been identified in Europe, North America and Australia. Its study is engaging amateurs, who have found the odd bit of clothing in a chimney flue, as well as textile professionals.

Deliberately concealing garments has been dated to the Middle Ages and connected with superstitions that involve the ritual protection of households. It involves sealing items into caches, usually near entrances and exits, behind plaster and under floorboards, and is said to be related to the practice of concealing witch bottles, charms and dried cats."