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Archaeologists discover key tool that helped early Americans survive the ice age

CNN
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Archaeologists found 32 needle fragments made from animal bone buried almost 15 feet underground at the La Prele site in Wyoming .

They are not the earliest eyed needles in the archaeological record, but for the first time scientists have been able to identify what the needles were made of.

The needles were created from the bones of red foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, lynx and hares or rabbits.

Needles are found at the oldest sites in North America .

The continent was likely unoccupied until humans had the ability to make tailored clothes, Gilligan says.

Needles would also be useful for sewing the inner layers in multilayered garment assemblages, which provide added thermal insulation.