Ancient Craftsmanship: How Early North Americans Used Bone Needles to Survive Cold Climates
New findings reveal that Early North Americans crafted needles from fur-bearer bones to make tailored garments, enabling their survival in northern latitudes nearly 13,000 years ago.
The LaPrele Mammoth Site: A Window into Early North American Life
Archaeological discoveries at the LaPrele mammoth site in Wyoming continue to shed light on the ingenuity and adaptability of Early North Americans, who lived in North America nearly 13,000 years ago. Among the latest findings, researchers have uncovered bone needles crafted from the remains of fur-bearing animals, suggesting these ancient humans produced garments that helped them survive cold climates.
The LaPrele site, located in Converse County, is best known for preserving the remains of a sub-adult Columbian mammoth, either killed or scavenged by Early North Americans. However, recent excavations led by the University of Wyoming's Todd Surovell and Wyoming State Archaeologist Spencer Pelton have revealed additional artifacts that deepen our understanding of life at this site, including the oldest known bead in the Americas, made from a hare bone.
Crafting Tools for Survival
Researchers examined 32 bone needle fragments found at the LaPrele site, analyzing their origins using advanced techniques such as zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS) and Micro-CT scanning. These methods allowed scientists to extract and analyze collagen from the artifacts, identifying the species from which the needles were made.
“Our study is the first to identify the species and likely elements from which Early North Americans produced eyed bone needles,” the research team noted in their findings, published in PLOS ONE1.
The analysis revealed that bones from red foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, lynx, hares, and the now-extinct American cheetah were used to create these intricate tools.
“Our results are strong evidence for tailored garment production using bone needles and fur-bearing animal pelts,” the researchers explained, highlighting that such garments likely played a critical role in human survival and dispersal to northern climates.
Tailored Garments and Human Expansion
The production of tailored garments with closely stitched seams was a key cultural innovation that enabled early humans to survive harsh climates. These garments acted as effective barriers against cold temperatures, allowing humans to expand into regions where exposure to the elements posed significant risks.
While direct evidence of these garments is scarce, the presence of bone needles and the remains of fur-bearing animals provides indirect but compelling evidence.
“Once equipped with such garments, modern humans had the capacity to expand their range to places from which they were previously excluded due to the threat of hypothermia or death from exposure,” the study explains.
How Were Fur-Bearing Animals Obtained?
The question of how Early North Americans acquired fur-bearing animals at the LaPrele site is particularly intriguing. Evidence suggests that these animals were likely trapped rather than hunted for food.
“Our results are a good reminder that foragers use animal products for a wide range of purposes other than subsistence,” the researchers noted, emphasizing the multifaceted role animals played in early human societies.
The discovery of needle fragments at the LaPrele site also aligns with evidence from other Early North American sites across North America, further suggesting that tailored garment production was a widespread practice during this period.
Broader Implications for Early North American Research
The findings at the LaPrele site provide some of the most detailed evidence yet of tailored garment production among Early North Americans. By analyzing the species used to craft these needles, researchers have gained new insights into the cultural and technological innovations that enabled human survival and dispersal in challenging environments.
This research underscores the resourcefulness of Early North Americans, who not only hunted large game like mammoths but also exploited smaller animals for their fur to create essential tools and clothing.
“These discoveries represent some of the most detailed evidence yet discovered for Early North American garments,” the researchers concluded, emphasizing the importance of clothing in human adaptation to new environments.
Related Studies
These studies collectively offer insights into the technological, cultural, and subsistence strategies of arly North American societies as seen through their use of bone tools.
Faunal Analysis and Tool Production at Paleoindian Sites
Explores the use of animal remains for tool production across North American Paleoindian sites, emphasizing species selection and processing techniques.
Source: Journal of Archaeological Science, 2019.Bone and Antler Tool Use in Late Pleistocene North America
Investigates bone and antler tools, including needles, highlighting manufacturing techniques and the implications for mobility and subsistence.
Source: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020.Paleoindian Bone Needle Manufacture: Implications for Clothing and Culture
Examines needle production in the context of tailoring and its cultural significance, focusing on evidence from Wyoming and neighboring regions.
Source: Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 2021.Faunal Resource Exploitation at Clovis Sites
Analyzes faunal remains from Clovis sites to understand resource utilization and tool production strategies, including the crafting of utilitarian objects like needles.
Source: Current Anthropology, 2015.Technological Organization of Bone Tools in Early North America
Discusses the organization and use of bone technology among early Paleoindian populations, including needles and other implements.
Source: Quaternary Science Reviews, 2020.Animal Resource Use and Cultural Innovation During the Paleoindian Period
Explores the relationship between resource use and cultural adaptation in early Paleoindian groups, including innovations in bone tool production.
Source: Wiley: Prehistoric North America, 2018.The Role of Small Mammals in Paleoindian Tool Kits
Highlights the importance of small mammals like hares in the crafting of bone tools and other cultural artifacts in early North American sites.
Source: Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2015.Paleoindian Adaptation and Faunal Processing at the La Prele Site
Focuses on adaptations evident in faunal processing and tool production at the La Prele site, correlating archaeological and isotopic evidence.
Source: Quaternary International, 2023.Tailored Clothing and Bone Tool Production in Upper Paleolithic Societies
Examines the cultural transition marked by the advent of tailored clothing, using bone needles as an archaeological proxy.
Source: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2021.The Archaeology of Bone Needle Technology
Comprehensive review of bone needle technology, focusing on functional and cultural contexts across Paleoindian sites.
Source: Antiquity, 2020.
Pelton, S. R., Litynski, M., Allaun, S. A., Buckley, M., Govaerts, J., Schoborg, T., O’Brien, M., Hill, M. G., Sanders, P., Mackie, M. E., Kelly, R. L., & Surovell, T. A. (2024). Early Paleoindian use of canids, felids, and hares for bone needle production at the La Prele site, Wyoming, USA. PloS One, 19(11), e0313610. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313610