Figure 1: South American Capuchin monkey using stone to crack open a nut (Credit: Dave Watts) |
Humans (aka, Homo sapiens) are considered very unique
in several ways. We are the only species
that has developed complex cultures, we are the only species that uses
language, and we are generally considered the paramount species. For all of our uniqueness researchers are
beginning to realize that the traits that set us apart are actually not that
different from several other animal species.
Today’s blog post will highlight this point by exploring the recent contemporary
and archaeological evidence that covers the Stone Age innovations and
accomplishments by nonhuman primate species.
This will be explored further by addressing what the term “Stone Age”
means, followed by discussions on the contemporary and archaeological evidence
that demonstrates how specifically nonhuman primates are meeting these
criteria.
First, it is important to understand exactly what a “Stone
Age” entails. From a human perspective
it is associated with the first definitive use of stone tools and the various
other cultural innovations that go with it.
Stone
tools were first definitively used by our hominid ancestors over 2 million years
ago, starting with Homo habilis and their Olduwan stone tool traditions. Subsequent species of hominids that evolved
after Homo habilis built on this foundational knowledge and technology to create
more complex stone tools, and with these innovations were various other cultural
innovations, such as the control and manipulation of fire, the creation of
jewelry and art, and purposeful hunting and fishing activities.
When the term “Stone Age” is discussed in conjunction with
nonhuman primates, however, it takes on a different meaning. It simply refers to the use of stones (aka
rocks or lithics) by nonhuman primates.
Typically, the use of stones among these species are to collect and obtain
food, specifically as stones have been used to dig out or smash open food
stuffs. At the present time there have
been no further cultural developments related to the “Stone Age” innovations observed
among nonhuman primates.
Figure 2: Long tailed macaque in Thailand using a rock to open shellfish (Credit: Mark MacEwen) |
Second, various nonhuman primate species have been observed creatively
utilizing their natural resources to meet their intended goals. Various ape species (e.g. gorillas,
orangutans, bonobos, and chimpanzees) have been observed using leaves and
sticks to fish out ants and termites, build nests, create weapons to kill and
eat smaller primate species, and even draw attention to themselves for the purposes
of engaging in sexual intercourse. None
of this is new information. What is new,
however, is the use of stones to acquire food (Figures 1 & 2). Various nonhuman primate species, including
but not limited to ape species, have been observed using stones to crack open
nuts and shell fish to gain access to the food within the shells. These species have also been seen using
stones to dig out tubers and roots for nourishment. This is unprecedented behavior, particularly
among monkey species such as macaques and capuchins, who while intelligent are
not necessarily seen as sophisticated as ape species.
These are, however, not the only evidence that has shocked
the anthropological community. Beginning
in 2007 there have been a series of published findings that have opened up a
new avenue of research referred to as primate archaeology, wherein
archaeological methods and theory are used to investigate primate material
culture evidence of the distant past.
Studies in Western Africa and Northeastern Brazil have demonstrated
definitive evidence that both chimpanzees and capuchins utilized stone tools
for thousands of years, solely for the purposes of acquiring food resources. This sets the timeline back for the nonhuman
primate “Stone Age” Revolution thousands of years, but it also places the more
recent evidence in context. Nonhuman
primates have had the ability to utilize stone tools, although their use has
been dependent on need.
What does this mean in the great scheme of things? Should humans be worried about a literal
nonhuman primate take over as illustrated in the series, “Planet of the Apes”? The simple answer at this time has and remains
no. Part of the reason why nonhuman
primates have not been observed utilizing stone tools regularly is that many
species are arboreal, meaning they live in trees. Stone is not readily available in the forest
canopies, meaning they just have not had a need to use stones as much as humans
have had that need. Second, the use of
stone tools creates noise, which for most nonhuman primates is a noisy beacon
that attracts predators, and nonhuman primate species do not want that. Only when there is a need and little risk do
nonhuman primate species utilize stone tools.
This does not mean that these innovations are not without
merit. They provide researchers
opportunities to gain better understandings of the circumstances that may have
driven our hominid ancestors to develop stone tools. As our hominid ancestors no longer exist
today and therefore cannot be observed in their natural settings performing
their typical tasks nonhuman primates provide a suitable analogy to allow for
the study of human behavioral (and in this case, cultural) development. This is what makes this discovery so special,
and as more attention is paid to these areas of research more information about
what modern nonhuman primates and premodern humans are and were capable of will
come to light, providing us greater insights into what it means to be a primate.
References
Barras, C. (2015, August 18). Chimpanzees and
monkeys have entered the Stone Age. Retrieved from BBC:
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150818-chimps-living-in-the-stone-age
Bower, B. (2019, June 24). Capuchin monkeys’
stone-tool use has evolved over 3,000 years. Retrieved from Science News:
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/capuchin-monkey-stone-tool-use-evolution-3000-years
Kaplan, S. (2018, July 6). These tiny monkeys have
entered their Stone Age with a bang. Retrieved from Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/07/06/these-tiny-monkeys-have-entered-their-stone-age-with-a-bang/
Mercader, J., Barton, H., Gillespie, J., Harris, J.,
Kuhn, S., Tyler, R., & Boesch, C. (2007). 4,300-Year-old chimpanzee sites
and the origins of percussive stone technology. PNAS, 3043-3048.
5 comments:
It is fascinating to know; nonhuman primates were and still are able to display their intelligence. When people speak of non-human primates, you think about a witless animal that lacks any decent skills. Even though these non-human primates use of stones might be considered basic today, I feel that it's absolutely amazing that these animals even thought to use stones as a resource to access food and other resources to contribute to their way of life.
The amount of Intelligence these animals hold is incredible. Using their surroundings to excess food and to defend himself To suit their way of living is intriguing and as you said humans are the only species that develop complex cultures and languages and things to fit our needs. It seems as if In a way we aren’t. It makes one wonder have other species adapted so much that to them they feel as if they are Evolving. For instance the American chipmunk you using the stone to crack the nut it’s hard to believe that I was always a technique. And all I’m simply saying what if the same way their species can’t understand us we can’t understand them maybe, they’re screeches and noises and specifically done to communicate the way our noises and sounds I specifically structure for us to understand.
Damia
Ironically we just watched a video in class where I believe it was apes forgive me if I am wrong using rocks and their surrounding to crack open objects in order to eat food. This blog just further emphasizes how intelligent animals actually are. One thing I learned from this article was that the use of stone tools creates noise which for nonhuman primates is a noise that attracts predators but one wonders how exactly does a predator know the distinction.
this is so crazy to me how once again our fellow primates are advanced in the levels we lack. They use the rocks for their benefit unselfishly while it may take us a minutes to resource a rock. These primates are so advanced its so mesmerizing.
- kennedy thompson
I really liked this blog. It taught me that When the term “Stone Age” is discussed in conjunction with nonhuman primates, however, it takes on a different meaning. It simply refers to the use of stones (aka rocks or lithics) by nonhuman primates. -Josh w
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