A new study reveals that needles and awls used by ancient peoples served not only for sewing clothes, but also played roles in rituals, medicine, tattooing, and weaving. Only about a third of cases were actually related to protection from the cold.
Artifacts from Oregon caves, including the oldest known sample of stitched elk hide, reveal how people 12,000 years ago adapted to the harsh climate of the Ice Age. These discoveries demonstrate the development of sewing techniques and clothing production that were essential for survival during periods of significant cooling.