Archaeologists have uncovered fascinating new evidence about how early humans in North America survived cold climates nearly 13,000 years ago.
At a site in Wyoming, researchers found that ancient people crafted needles from the bones of fur-bearing animals to sew garments made from animal pelts.
These discoveries give us a deeper understanding of how humans adapted to harsh environments during the Paleolithic era.
The research, led by Wyoming State Archaeologist Spencer Pelton and colleagues, took place at the LaPrele archaeological site in Converse County, Wyoming.
This site preserves the remains of a Columbian mammoth that was either killed or scavenged by humans, along with evidence of a camp used by the ancient inhabitants.
Among the artifacts uncovered were fragments of bone needles and a bead made from the bone of a hare. The bead, identified as the oldest in the Americas, and the needles point to advanced skills in crafting tools and clothing.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS ONE, provide strong evidence that early humans created tailored garments to protect themselves from cold temperatures.
How were the needles made?
The needles were crafted from the bones of various fur-bearing animals, including foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, lynx, hares, and even the now-extinct American cheetah.
Researchers believe the needles were used to stitch together furs from these animals into warm, closely fitted clothing.
These garments likely had tight seams that helped protect against the cold, enabling humans to survive in northern climates.
To identify the source of the needle fragments, researchers used advanced techniques like zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS) and Micro-CT scanning. These methods allowed them to analyze the collagen in the bone and compare it to known animals from the Paleoindian period, which lasted between 13,500 and 12,000 years ago.
This is the first time scientists have identified the specific animals used to make bone needles. Understanding this process sheds light on a key cultural innovation that allowed early humans to expand into colder regions. Tailored garments were essential for survival, as they provided a critical barrier against freezing temperatures.
“Once equipped with such garments, modern humans could move into areas that were previously too cold for survival,” Pelton and his colleagues explained. This ability to adapt was a crucial factor in the spread of humans across the Americas.
How did they obtain the animals?
The study suggests that the fur-bearing animals were likely obtained through trapping rather than hunting for food. Trapping would have allowed people to collect the pelts they needed to make clothing while also preserving the animals’ bones for tools like needles.
This finding challenges the assumption that animal bones at archaeological sites always indicate dietary practices. Instead, it shows that ancient people used animals for many purposes, including making tools, clothing, and ornaments like the hare bone bead found at the LaPrele site.
The discoveries at the LaPrele site, combined with evidence from other North American Paleoindian sites, suggest that early inhabitants of the continent had advanced skills in using animal resources.
These findings provide some of the clearest evidence yet of how early humans made and used garments to adapt to their environment.
This research not only highlights the ingenuity of these ancient people but also underscores how critical clothing and tools were in helping humans survive and thrive in challenging climates.
By crafting needles and garments from the bones and pelts of animals, these early North Americans set the stage for the colonization of the Americas.
