From neolithic to contemporary times: 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 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. 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. 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.