Moderator: “In many Indigenous cultures, nudity was not just accepted - it was part of daily life. What can we learn from traditions that still exist today?"

Responder: “For many Indigenous cultures around the world, social nudity was not merely accepted - it was the norm. Unlike in many modern societies, where nudity has been largely confined to private spaces, numerous Indigenous groups have historically lived with minimal or no clothing, shaped by environmental conditions, spiritual beliefs and cultural traditions. From rainforests of South America to deserts of Africa and islands in the Pacific, body freedom was a natural part of daily life.”

• Moderator: “How have Indigenous Amazonian groups historically embraced body freedom?"

Responder: “In the Amazon rainforest, tribes such as Yanomami and Tupi lived in harmony with their environment, wearing little or no clothing. For these groups, nudity was practical in the hot, humid climate and was never associated with shame or immorality. Instead of garments, they adorned their bodies with paint, feathers and beads, variously signifying social status, spiritual protection or tribal affiliation.”

• Moderator: “What role did social nudity play in Aboriginal cultures?”

Responder: “Across the vast landscapes of Australia, many Aboriginal groups traditionally lived without clothing, instead relying on body paint, ceremonial decorations and practical coverings such as cloaks made from animal skins in cooler regions. The practice of social nudity was deeply embedded in cultural traditions, particularly in rituals, storytelling and ceremonies, where painted designs carried deep ancestral significance.”

• Moderator: “How have traditional African communities approached nudity?”

Responder: “In arid regions of southern Africa, San people - one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures - traditionally wore minimal clothing, with adornments made of beads, leather and natural pigments. Similarly, Himba people of Namibia continue to embrace semi-nudity, covering their bodies with a mixture of ochre and butterfat to protect from sun whilst emphasising cultural identity.”

• Moderator: “How did indigenous Pacific Islanders view the human body?”

Responder: “In tropical islands of Pacific, social nudity was historically widespread. In Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaii, traditional dress often consisted of skirts made from plant fibres, whilst upper body remained uncovered for both men and women. Nudity was not considered indecent but was instead a natural state of being, closely linked to spiritual and communal practices. Tattoos, body paint and adornments played a central role in self-expression and cultural identity.”

• Moderator: “What impact did colonialism have on traditional nudity norms?”

Responder: “Despite the deep cultural significance of indigenous naturism, colonial powers often viewed these practices through a lens of moral superiority, imposing Western dress codes as a means of control. Missionaries and colonial administrators forcibly clothed Indigenous peoples, associating nudity with primitiveness and immorality. In many cases, traditional ways of life - including body freedom - were suppressed in favour of imposed cultural norms, marking a turning point in global attitudes toward naturism."

Moderator: “To understand the origins of naturism, we must first explore our earliest ancestors. What did life look like before clothing became the norm?”

Responder: “For hundreds of thousands of years, early humans thrived in diverse environments without clothing. Evolution of Homo sapiens, and other hominins before them, was shaped by adaptation to surroundings. Whilst modern humans are often defined by their use of clothing, scientific evidence suggests that for much of human history, our ancestors lived without it, particularly in the warm climates of Africa where they first evolved.”

• Moderator: “What evolutionary advantages might hairlessness have offered early humans?”

Responder: “Humans are unique among primates in their relative hairlessness. Researchers believe that this trait evolved as an adaptation to heat. As early hominins transitioned from forested areas to open savannahs, they developed an ability to sweat efficiently, reducing reliance on fur for thermoregulation. This cooling mechanism allowed them to engage in endurance-based hunting and gather food over long distances without overheating. Fossil evidence suggests that by the time of Homo erectus, around 1.8 million years ago, early humans had already lost most of their body hair and developed darker skin to protect against the sun’s intense radiation.”

• Moderator: “When and why did humans first start wearing clothes?”

Responder: While early humans may have remained largely unclothed for much of their existence, evidence suggests that clothing emerged as a necessity when they migrated to colder regions. Genetic studies of lice indicate that clothing lice diverged from head lice approximately 170,000 years ago, suggesting this as a likely period when humans began wearing garments for warmth. Animal hides and plant-based coverings would have provided insulation against Ice Age conditions of Europe and Asia.”

• Moderator: “Did early humans see clothing as more than just protection?”

Responder: “As humans developed more complex societies, clothing and body decoration took on new roles beyond practical protection. Archaeological finds, such as ochre pigments used for body painting in South Africa’s Blombos Cave (dated to around 75,000 years ago), suggest that some humans may have adorned their bodies long before they covered them with textiles. Beads, shells and other ornaments have been found at Palaeolithic sites, indicating an early appreciation for self-expression and social identity.”

• Moderator: “What can prehistoric art tell us about body perception?”

Responder: “Archeological evidence from Upper Palaeolithic (c. 40,000–11,000 years ago) includes over 200 "Venus figurines”, discovered across Europe and parts of Asia. These small sculptures (exclusively, of women) exaggerate breasts, hips, thighs and buttocks and may symbolise a widespread fertility cult. Distribution of Venus figurines aligns with regions previously inhabited by Homo neanderthalensis, but the figurines themselves are associated with H. sapiens. Interestingly, DNA evidence suggests that the interbreeding was asymmetric, i.e. male Homo sapiens mated with female Homo neanderthalensis. Some researchers speculate that the Venus figurines may represent a cultural memory or artistic representation of valued hybrid traits.”

Moderator: “Before we begin our journey through time, let's first set the stage. How has naturism existed across different cultures and eras? What is the broad human experience of social nudity?”

Responder: “For much of human history, non-sexual social nudity has been an integral part of everyday life. Across diverse cultures and time periods, attitudes toward the unclothed body have ranged from practical acceptance to symbolic reverence and - at times - rigid prohibition. The way societies have embraced, regulated or rejected nudity is deeply intertwined with broader themes of social control, cultural identity and human expression. This trail invites you on a journey through time, tracing the complex and often surprising history of naturism as a shared human experience.”

• Moderator: "What does history tell us about the commonality of social nudity across cultures?”

Responder: “From hunter-gatherers of prehistoric Africa to contemporary naturist communities worldwide, communal non-sexual nudity has been a consistent thread in human civilisation. For many Indigenous cultures, minimal or no clothing was the norm due to climate conditions or spiritual beliefs. For instance, many Amazonian tribes continue to embrace social nudity as an expression of harmony with nature and for simple practicality. In Ancient Greece, athletes competed nude as a celebration of the human form; whilst in Japan, communal nude bathing in onsen (hot springs) remains a long-standing tradition. In these contexts, communal non-sexual nudity was not just accepted but often carried positive social or ritual significance.

Yet, throughout history, clothing norms have also been wielded as tools of social control. From sumptuary laws of medieval Europe - which dictated who could wear silk or fur - to colonial impositions of Western dress codes on Indigenous populations, attire has been used to enforce class distinctions, reinforce gender roles and mark social hierarchies. The introduction of modesty laws in Victorian England, for example, reflected shifting attitudes toward morality and propriety, leading to the widespread stigmatisation of nudity in public life.”

• Moderator: “How have attitudes toward nudity evolved over time?”

Responder: "Despite periods of repression, naturism has persisted, adapting to cultural and political landscapes. 19th and 20th centuries CE saw the emergence of organised naturist movements in Europe and North America, often linked to broader philosophies of health, wellness and personal freedom. Today, naturism continues to be practiced worldwide, from beaches of Brazil to forests of Scandinavia, reflecting humanity’s enduring connection to the unclothed body. Whereas, in most modern societies, it is either extinct or severely endangered.

As we embark on this exploration of naturism’s past and present, it is crucial to recognise its historical fluidity. By examining how different cultures have understood and regulated nudity, we gain insight into the ways societies define propriety, individuality and community. Through the next nineteen waypoints, this trail will uncover many dimensions of naturism - its roots, its struggles and continued significance in the modern world.”