Across the Mongolian steppe, archaeologists have encountered ... There were also remnants of yak milk. Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.

But several brands are turning to a readily available cashmere alternative — one that can provide Mongolian herders with an income while protecting their land from degradation: yak wool.

The Eastern or Mongolian steppe is home to large herds ... Previously, the earliest evidence for yak milk consumption came from individuals from the Mongol Empire in about 1270 CE.

Chloe Phillips-Harris rides a yak during a recent trip to Mongolia. Whether it’s careering across vast Mongolian landscapes on a barely tamed horse, or plodding along on a yak, reindeer or camel ...