The Palaeolithic origin of eyed needles

Various Palaeolithic tools made of osseous materials can be attributed to the processing of skin and plant fibres for clothing production, such as smoothers, awls, and possibly double points and épingles. However, the eyed needle is the technological innovation that unequivocally marks the beginning of intricate sewing in the Palaeolithic. It is a tool whose shape and mode of use have persisted until today, although its manufacturing techniques have changed over time. This tool is perfectly suited to manual sewing, which is inherently complex, and has various technical, economic, and cultural implications for hunter-gatherer societies. We present a concise overview of the published research on the origin of eyed needles in the Palaeolithic, in different parts of the world and at different periods, from Siberia and the Caucasus to China and North America, and their spread across different territories with their evolution and diversity. We will address the importance of morphometric analyses that allow us to assess this evolution and diversity within a techno-complex and between geographic areas and chrono-cultural contexts, presenting different hypotheses proposed about their origin and dispersion. Additionally, we discuss technological issues regarding the raw materials used (generally bone, although some specimens have been recovered in antler and ivory), and their transformation into needles. Studies in this regard are scarce, and most have focused on the Late Glacial period of Western Europe, although they are gradually extending to other geographic areas and periods. Thus, we examine the different techniques employed in producing the same object type at different times and places in the Northern Hemisphere. Finally, we address the question of needle use, the threads that may have been used, fractures, and repairs.