A SIMPLE STONE-TOOL TECHNOLOGY IN MONKEYS

The purpose of this research was to examine the use and modification o f stone tools by tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Two experimen ts were conducted. In Experiment 1, six of 11 monkeys produced stone-f lakes, by striking stones against hard surfaces. In Experiment 2, thre e of 15 monkeys used stones as cutting tools. Two of these monkeys com bined tools and one of them modified stones prior to using them as too ls. The results of this study demonstrate a simple stone-tool technolo gy in monkeys. These data provide further evidence for cross-species c ontinuity in the tool-using and tool-making abilities of primates and indicate that stone-tool technology may have evolved in the hominid li neage earlier than has been confirmed by the existing archaeological r ecord.