Wyoming archaeologists found 13,000-year-old eyed needles used to make garments at a prehistoric site, in a significant (and sophisticated) first.
At LaPrele near Douglas, Wyoming, Spencer Pelton and a team of archaeologists had already explored an area where a Columbian mammoth had been killed or scavenged.
However, an unlikely suite in the excavations, sharp needles complete with thread holes revealed that the early Americans used the game for much more than food.
It doesn’t come as any surprise that Paleolithic humans consumed the whole animal for far more than sustenance, as harsh conditions would necessitate warm clothing, but the 32 needles made of bone recently discovered reveal an intricacy of craftsmanship and detail into the lives of our human ancestors.
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Moreover, they pinpoint a fascinating intersection between clothing and innovation that equipped early humans with the means to move to colder climates and even survive them. However, analysis had never been performed on these types of tools before.
In a new study, Wyoming State researchers reported “the first identifications of species and element used to produce Paleolithic bone needles,” and also the “oldest known bead” ever to be found in the Americas.
Paleolithic tailored clothing production helped early humans to migrate
Between 2015 and 2022, Wyoming State researchers recovered 32 bone needles and one sole bead from the LaPrele Mammouth site to examine further. After all, it’s easier to manufacture clothes where the animal is rather than dragging the body back.
Using zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS) and Micro-CT scanning, they analyzed the chemical composition of the bone, according to a recent press release.
Comparing the peptides, they established an impressive range of animals that provided the bones to make the needles: red foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, lynx, the American cheetah, and hares or rabbits.
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In presenting evidence for tailored garment production, researchers are highlighting an crucial innovation, as clothing that binds closely to the skin traps heat more effectively than draped clothing, along with stitched seams.
Though the physical remains of Paleolithic clothing are sparse, “bone needles are a well-established archeological phenomenon evidence” in North American research, study authors explained.
More strikingly, this evolutionary step in dress “partially enabled modern human dispersal to northern latitudes and eventually enabled colonization of the Americas.”
However, “despite the importance of bone needles to explaining global modern human dispersal,” they continue in a press release, “archaeologists have never identified the materials used to produce them, thus limiting understanding of this important cultural innovation.”
“Our results are strong evidence for tailored garment production using bone needles and fur-bearing animal pelts.”
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Animal bones at prehistoric sites hold new meaning
Bone needles emerged in Eurasia beginning circa 40,000 BP and in North American Paleoindian sites between 12,000 and 13,000 BP.
“The bones of fur bearers have received less attention as an indirect proxy for tailored garment production.”
Some animals possess pelts with tightly spaced hairs that trap a layer of stationary air near the skin’s surface. They are classically difficult to hunt, so their appearance in “archaeological assemblages” has been “hard to explain.”
The bone needles provide “compelling evidence that the earliest North Americans routinely trapped game.” They went out of their way to catch these trickier animals because of their skin.
“Our results are a good reminder that foragers use animal products for a wide range of purposes other than subsistence and that the mere presence of animal bones in an archaeological site need not be indicative of diet,” study authors conclude.
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
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These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
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Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two men were detained in Wyoming in connection with a fatal shooting at a downtown Salt Lake hotel that killed one man.
Carlos Chee, 23, and Chino Aguilar, 21, were both wanted for first-degree felony murder after the victim, identified as Christian Lee, 32, was found dead in a room at the Springhill Suites near 600 South and 300 West.
According to warrants issued for their arrest, Chee and Aguilar met with Lee and another woman at the hotel to sell marijuana. During the alleged drug deal, Aguilar allegedly shot and killed Lee after he tried to grab at his gun.
MORE | Shootings
Investigators said they found Lee dead in the room upon arrival, as well as a single shell casing on the floor and a small amount of marijuana on the television stand.
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The woman told investigators she had met Chee on a dating app and that he agreed to come to the hotel to sell her marijuana. She had been hanging out with him in the room, which Lee rented for her to use, when Lee asked them to leave. Lee was then shot and killed following a brief confrontation.
Chee and Aguilar allegedly fled the scene in a 2013 Toyota Camry with a Texas license plate that was later found outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming just a few hours later.
The two men were taken into custody and detained at the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
