Oldest Known Bead in the Americas Discovered by Archaeologists

Made from a hare's bone, the 12,940-year-old artifact offers new insights into the Clovis period.

Archaeologists led by Professor Todd Surovell discovered a 12,940-year-old bead at the La Prele Mammoth site in Wyoming, marking the oldest known bead in the Americas.
The bead, made from a hare's bone, provides the first secure evidence of hare use during the Clovis period, about 12,000 years ago.
The discovery was published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports, with contributions from multiple universities and the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist.
The bead's creation by humans is supported by its proximity to other cultural materials and distinctive grooves on its exterior.
This finding sheds light on the cultural and social complexity of early humans in the Americas, indicating the use of personal ornaments like beads.