From Neolithic to Modernity: Persistent Use Patterns of Needle Cases in Northeast Asia

This paper presents an analysis of two exceptionally rare archaeological finds: bone needle cases containing loose sediments, within which needles and beads were identified through micro-CT scanning. These artifacts were recovered from Neolithic burials at the Verkholensk cemetery, excavated by A. P. Okladnikov between 1951 and 1953 in the Cis-Baikal region of Eastern Siberia. While the discovery of needle cases containing needles is not uncommon, such artifacts are typically cleaned during post-excavation processing, often obscuring their original contents and spatial organization. The significance of these finds lies not merely in the presence of needles, but in their spatial arrangement within the cases. By analyzing the positioning of the needles and beads, we reconstruct how these items were handled and transported during the Neolithic period. Our findings suggest that a long leather strip or fragment was threaded through the needle case and attached to clothing or a belt, reflecting a high degree of daily and seasonal mobility among Neolithic populations. This method aligns with ethnographic parallels and Iron Age evidence, where organic materials have been better preserved. The small diameter of the needle cases (6–10 mm) indicates the use of finely processed, thin leather capable of being folded and threaded through the artifact. The raw material was likely derived from thinned hides of reindeer or fur-bearing animals. Notably, the presence of beads inside the needle cases provides the first direct evidence that these items served a multifunctional purpose—not only as containers for sewing kits but also for storing and transporting small objects. Given that all previously documented beads from the Verkholensk cemetery have been lost, the fragments preserved within these needle cases represent a unique instance of artifact preservation. These findings offer significant insights into the economic practices and funerary rituals of Neolithic populations in Northeast Asia, highlighting the adaptive strategies and material culture of highly mobile communities.