The Iamal-Nenets region of Siberia is one of many Arctic areas where women’s sewing skills were and are crucial to daily existence. Our article explores archaeological needles and needle cases that were made and used by ancestors of the current Indigenous peoples of this region. We frame our examination of these materials through a discussion of women’s sewing bags, which are a symbolic representation of every stitch made by a woman’s hands in creating dwelling covers, bedding sets, storage bags, and every piece of clothing, all of which are crucial to the survival and well-being of her family. These particular bags are not merely containers for essential sewing supplies such as needles and needle cases. They embody layers of multigenerational skill, ancestral knowledge, and identity that are passed by women to their daughters, nieces, and granddaughters. We summarize archaeological needle and needle cases from Iamal to stitch together the meanings and importance of the materials both in the past and present. In doing so, we highlight and acknowledge the complex history of Indigenous women and their incredible sewing skills, which have allowed families to survive and flourish in the Siberian Arctic for hundreds of generations.

中文翻译：

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独眼老妇人缝制一件装饰品：针、针盒和来自北极西伯利亚亚马尔-涅涅茨地区的妇女


西伯利亚的伊马尔-涅涅茨地区是众多北极地区之一，妇女的缝纫技能在过去和现在对日常生活至关重要。我们的文章探讨了该地区当前土著人民的祖先制造和使用的考古针和针盒。我们通过对女性缝纫袋的讨论来对这些材料进行审查，这些缝纫袋象征着女性在制作家居罩、床上用品、储物袋和每一件衣服时亲手缝制的每一针，所有这些都至关重要。为了她家人的生存和幸福。这些特殊的袋子不仅仅是装针和针盒等基本缝纫用品的容器。她们体现了女性将多代人的技能、祖传知识和身份传承给她们的女儿、侄女和孙女。我们总结了来自伊阿马尔的考古针和针盒，将这些材料在过去和现在的意义和重要性缝合在一起。在此过程中，我们强调并承认土著妇女的复杂历史及其令人难以置信的缝纫技能，这些技能使家庭能够在西伯利亚北极地区生存并繁荣数百代。