New research confirms that early North Americans used unique tools to survive in harsh climates

There have been many strange archaeological discoveries in 2024, but one in November was more eye-opening than eyebrow-raising. Recent discoveries at an archaeological site provide new insight into North America’s earliest inhabitants, including how and perhaps why they made clothing. The 13,000-year-old site includes bones and other artifacts from a Colombian mammoth and provides information about the early humans of North America and the innovations they made.

There are many archaeological sites in America, but research in Wyoming suggests that early inhabitants of North America made needles from animal bones to sew the animals’ skins into clothing. Researchers also found the first known pearl in America at the site, which was also made of bone.

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An archaeological site in Wyoming is revealing new information about humans and now-extinct animals

Archaeologists in Wyoming have discovered a Paleolithic site where early North Americans either hunted and killed or captured a mammoth. After extensively examining the site called La Prele, archaeologists published a report detailing their findings.

What’s interesting about this research, according to Pelton et al., is that there was little previous evidence about the materials from which the early needles were made.

“Despite the importance of bone needles in explaining the global distribution of modern humans, archaeologists have never identified the materials from which they were made, limiting understanding of this important cultural innovation.” — Pelton, SR et al.

The new archaeological site, dated around 12,900, revealed bone needles made from “dogs, cats and hares”, suggesting that these early peoples used dogs, cats and rabbits not only for their fur, but also for their bones as material for needles . What’s remarkable about the findings is that the invention of needles allowed early humans to sew garments, which then allowed them to move to colder climates and thrive.

“Once equipped with such garments, modern humans were able to expand their range into places from which they had previously been excluded due to the risk of hypothermia or death from exposure.” — Pelton, SR et al.

Researchers could also use an awl or needle to identify which garments were being made, as tailored garments had tight seams. However, the origin of the animals that early humans used to make bone needles is unclear. The researchers pointed out that the small animals whose bones were used in needles were often difficult to catch and were quite small.

Generally, when hunting such animals, people would use traps to reduce the energy required to catch them. Therefore, at the La Prele site it is assumed that these early people caught the animals for their fur and then also used them for meat and bone needles.

Early North Americans had access to animals that are now extinct

Bone needles discovered in La Prele

The researchers used a variety of tools and methods – including X-rays, collagen extraction and marker peptides – to determine the origin of the bone needles, right down to the type of animal they came from.

The study found that early North Americans at the Le Prele site used animals such as a “cheetah-like cat,” a mountain lion, a saber-toothed cat, a swift fox, a gray fox, a dire wolf, a snowshoe hare, a cottontail rabbit, a pygmy rabbit, and used American pika to make Bone needles.

Based on their size and thickness, the study suggested that the bones used for the needles were metapodia, essentially the ankle and wrist bones of canine and feline animals, and then the metatarsals of rabbits.

In addition to providing excellent evidence of early garment-making methods, the presence of bone needles suggests that early North Americans regularly used traps to catch small game.

Ultimately, the study suggests further implications of this research, noting: “These garments partially enabled the spread of modern humans to northern latitudes and ultimately enabled the colonization of the Americas.”