Journal article

Pre-Columbian monkey tools

Abstract:: Stone tools reveal worldwide innovations in human behaviour over the past three million years [1]. However, the only archaeological report of pre-modern non-human animal tool use comes from three Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) sites in Côte d'Ivoire, aged between 4.3 and 1.3 thousand years ago (kya) [2]. This anthropocentrism limits our comparative insight into the emergence and development of technology, weakening our evolutionary models [3]. Here, we apply archaeological techniques to a distinctive stone tool assemblage created by a non-human animal in the New World, the Brazilian bearded capuchin monkey (Sapajus libidinosus). Wild capuchins at Serra da Capivara National Park (SCNP) use stones to pound open defended food, including locally indigenous cashew nuts [4], and we demonstrate that this activity dates back at least 600 to 700 years. Capuchin stone hammers and anvils are therefore the oldest non-human tools known outside of Africa, opening up to scientific scrutiny questions on the origins and spread of tool use in New World monkeys, and the mechanisms - social, ecological and cognitive - that support primate technological evolution.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Haslam, M., Luncz, L., Staff, R., Bradshaw, F., Ottoni, E., & Falótico, T. (2016). Pre-Columbian monkey tools. Current Biology, 26(13), R521–R522.

MLA Style

Haslam, M., et al. “Pre-Columbian Monkey Tools.” Current Biology, vol. 26, no. 13, 2016, pp. R521–22.

Chicago Style

Haslam, M., L. Luncz, R. Staff, F. Bradshaw, E. Ottoni, and T. Falótico. 2016. “Pre-Columbian Monkey Tools.” Current Biology 26 (13): R521–22.
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Files:: Haslam et al. 2016 (Current Biology) (SOM).pdf

(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 897.5KB, Terms of use)

Pre-Columbian monkey tools.pdf

(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 26.9KB, Terms of use)

Publisher copy:: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.046

Authors

+ Haslam, M More by this author

Role:: Author

+ Luncz, L More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: SSD
Department:: School of Archaeology
Role:: Author

+ Staff, R More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: SSD
Department:: School of Archaeology
Sub department:: Archaeology Research Lab
Role:: Author

+ Bradshaw, F More by this author

Role:: Author

+ Ottoni, E More by this author

Role:: Author

More authors...

+ European Research Council More from this funder

Funding agency for:: Luncz, L
Grant:: 283959 (PRIMARCH

Publisher:: Cell Press
Journal:: Current Biology More from this journal
Volume:: 26
Issue:: 13
Pages:: R521-R522
Publication date:: 2016-07-11
DOI:: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.046
ISSN:: 1879-0445

Language:: English
Keywords:: Letter
Pubs id:: pubs:634224
UUID:: uuid:5166694e-d1c5-41b1-94d2-3aed939ac28e
Local pid:: pubs:634224
Source identifiers:: 634224
Deposit date:: 2016-08-02
ARK identifier:: ark:/29072/ora_5166694ed1c541b194d23aed939ac28e

Terms of use

Copyright holder:: Elsevier Ltd
Copyright date:: 2016
Notes:: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available online from Elsevier at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.046

Licence:: Terms and Conditions of Use for Oxford University Research Archive

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