Stone tool use in primates = opening oysters & nuts

[Marc Verha]

Stone-Tool Usage by Thai Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca
fascicularis)
S.Malaivijitnond cs.2007 Am.J.Primat.69:227­233

In January & March of 2005, we conducted surveys of Mac.fasc
at Piak Nam Yai Island, Laem Son National Park, Ranong Prov.
S-Thailand. 2 of the 3 troops on the island were observed
using axe-shaped stones to crack rock oysters, detached
gastropods Thais tissoti, bivalves Gafrarium divaricatum &
swimming crabs Thalamita danae. They smashed the shells with
stones that were held in either the left or right hand, while
using the opposite hand to gather the oyster meat. Some
monkeys used both hands to handle the stones. According to
Matsuzawa¹s 1996 hierarchical classification of tool usage
(levels 0­3), the tool usage by Thai long-tailed macaques
could be characterized as either level 1 (cracking rock
oysters with stones) or level 2 (cracking drifting mollusks &
crabs with stones by placing them on a rock). Our discovery of
stone-tool usage by Thai long-tailed macaques provides a new
point of reference for discussions regarding the evolution of
tool usage and the material culture of primates.

...

This is the first report of oyster-cracking behavior using
stone tools in Thai long-tailed macaques. Similar behaviors
were observed over 100 yrs ago in long-tailed macaques
inhabiting the islands of the Mergui Archipelago, S-Myanmar,
in close proximity to our study areas. That brief report has
long been neglected ; in the past, human primates were
believed to differ from non-human primates on the basis of
language, culture & tool usage. However, the distinction
between humans & other primates by tool usage was definitely
contradicted by Jane Goodall¹s discovery of termite-fishing
behavior in wild chimpanzees in Gombe, E.Africa. Apart from
chimpanzees, tool usage has been observed in other hominoids
(eg, gorillas & orangutans) & platyrrhines (eg, capuchins).
Similarly to chimpanzees, wild capuchins use stones to crack
the tough shells of nuts, and use a piece of oyster shell to
crack oysters ...

[Lee Olsen]

On Apr 27, 6:38=A0pm, pete <pfil...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> Lee Olsen wrote:
> > Here the author has it wrong, because by definition a
> > stone tool is: http://www.stoneageinstitute.org/ "Stone
> > tools are fossilized human behavior." --Louis Leakey
> > (1903-1972)

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/definition

1. the act of defining or making definite,
distinct, or clear.

2. the formal statement of the meaning or significance of
a word, phrase, etc.

3. the condition of being definite, distinct, or
clearly outlined.

> "Stone tools are fossilized human behavior." --Louis Leakey
> (1903-1972)

Troll: =93That's not a definition.=94

It is in part a very condensed definition, a very clever one
at that. Probably would be meaningless and over the head of
the average troll, especially taken out of context of the
other two URLs that were given and snipped. Taken by itself
would not be clear as per the def. above.

Troll: =93That's just something that Leakey said about
stone tools.=94

Part two and three, which were cut out, make his condensed
definition much clearer.

Troll,: =93Not every statement about something is a
definition.=94

Well, this one by Leakey WAS in part a definition, I didn=92t
throw it in without further qualifiers, knowing full well they
would be needed for illiterates like you and Jim.

I can see now neither you or Jim are capable of adding all
three together.

[Nickname]

On Apr 16, 7:25 am, Lee Olsen <paleoc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 16, 3:56 am, Marc Verhaegen
> <m_verhae...@skynet.be> wrote:
>
> > Stone-Tool Usage by Thai Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca
> > fascicularis)
> > S.Malaivijitnond cs.2007 Am.J.Primat.69:227-233
>
> > In January & March of 2005, we conducted surveys of
> > Mac.fasc at Piak Nam=
Yai
> > Island, Laem Son National Park, Ranong Prov. S-Thailand. 2
> > of the 3 troops on the island were observed using
> > axe-shaped stones to=

> > crack rock oysters, detached gastropods Thais tissoti,
> > bivalves Gafrariu=
m
> > divaricatum & swimming crabs Thalamita danae. They smashed
> > the shells w=
ith
> > stones that were held in either the left or right hand,
> > while using the opposite hand to gather the oyster meat.
> > Some monkeys used both hands t=
o
> > handle the stones.
>
> Correct so far.
>
> > According to Matsuzawa=B9s 1996 hierarchical
> > classification of tool usag=
e
> > (levels 0-3), the tool usage by Thai long-tailed macaques
> > could be characterized as either level 1 (cracking rock
> > oysters with stones) or l=
evel
> > 2 (cracking drifting mollusks & crabs with stones by
> > placing them on a rock). Our discovery of stone-tool usage
> > by Thai long-tailed macaques provides =
a
> > new point of reference for discussions regarding the
> > evolution of tool u=
sage
> > and the material culture of primates.
>
> Here the author has it wrong, because by definition a stone
> tool is:http:/=
/www.stoneageinstitute.org/
> "Stone tools are fossilized human behavior." --Louis Leakey
> (1903-1972)
>
> http://www.archaeologywordsmith.com/cgi-bin/lookup.cgi?cate-
> gory=3D&wher...=

> tool "CATEGORY: artifact DEFINITION: Any existing physical
> object that is in some way fashioned or altered by humans
> and employed for a specific task or purpose. Tools made of
> stone included of axes, adzes, arrowheads, spearheads,
> daggers, knife blades, scrapers, borers, burins, picks, etc.
> The first tools date back to c 2,600,000 years ago, the
> beginning of the Paleolithic Age, and are different-sized
> pebble tools called choppers. The chopper was the only tool
> used by man for almost 2,000,000 years, until the appearance
> of the hand ax, a superior (and sharper) version of the
> chopper. stone tool CATEGORY: lithics DEFINITION: A tool
> made of stone, either ground stone or chipped stone; a
> lithic artifact."
>
> http://www.webref.org/anthropology/t/tool.htm "tool: an
> object that appears to have been created for a specific
> purpose."
>
>
>
> > ...
>
> > This is the first report of oyster-cracking behavior using
> > stone tools i=
n
> > Thai long-tailed macaques. Similar behaviors were observed
> > over 100 yrs =
ago
> > in long-tailed macaques inhabiting the islands of the
> > Mergui Archipelago=
,
> > S-Myanmar, in close proximity to our study areas. That
> > brief report has =
long
> > been neglected ; in the past, human primates were believed
> > to differ fro=
m
> > non-human primates on the basis of language, culture &
> > tool usage.
>
> This is nothing more than strawman argument by someone
> obviously not familiar with the literature and trying to
> make himself look important by making profound statements
> that are false. No stone TOOL was observed, a stone was
> observed.
>
> > However, the distinction between humans & other primates
> > by tool usage was defini=
tely
> > contradicted by Jane Goodall=B9s discovery of
> > termite-fishing behavior i=
n wild
> > chimpanzees in Gombe, E.Africa.
>
> Here the author confuses "tools" with "stone tools" by
> lumping the two together as if they are one. They are not.
> Using an unmodified stone to break nuts is not the same as
> making a stone tool.
>
> The distinction that completely separates humans from all
> other primates, birds, sea otters, etc. is the ability to
> understand conchoidal fracture. When a chimp modifies a
> branch by pulling off the twigs to shape it into a termite
> probe, this then, by the dictionary definition above, is a
> "tool" per Jane Goodall above.
>
> There is a difference between pulling twigs off a branch and
> using conchoidal fracture to make a STONE tool, which has
> never been observed either in the wild or in the lab.
>
> > Apart from chimpanzees, tool usage has been observed in
> > other hominoids (eg, gorillas & orangutans) &
> > platyrrhines (=
eg,
> > capuchins). Similarly to chimpanzees, wild capuchins use
> > stones to crack=
the
> > tough shells of nuts, and use a piece of oyster shell to
> > crack oysters .=
..
>
> The error that is contiually being made is the simple fact
> that there is such a thing as a simple tool, there is no
> such thing as a simple STONE tool manufactured with an
> understanding of conchoidal fracture.
>
> What wasn't known in Jane Goodall's day was how complex an
> idea conchoidal fracture is, like those first stone tools
> required. Roche, Toth, and Semaw have demonstrated this
> complex understanding has been in place for over two
> million years.
>
> Sileshi Semaw
>
> The World's Oldest Stone Artefacts from Gona, Ethiopia:
> Their Implications for Understanding Stone Technology and
> Patterns of Human Evolution Between 2=B76-1=B75 Million
> Years Ago
>
> Journal of Archaeological Science (2000) 27, 1197-1214
>
> "Surprisingly, the makers of the Gona artefacts had a
> sophisticated understanding of stone fracture mechanics and
> control similar to what is observed for Oldowan assemblages
> dated between 2=B70-1=B75 Ma. This observation was
> corroborated by the recent archaeological discoveries made
> at Lokalalei. Because of the similarities seen in the
> techniques of artefact manufacture during the Late
> Pliocene-Early Pleistocene, it is argued here that the stone
> assemblages dated between 2=B76-1=B75 Ma group into the
> Oldowan Industry. The similarity and simplicity of the
> artefacts from this time interval suggests a technological
> stasis in the Oldowan."
>
> If using a rock is "According to Matsuzawa=B9s 1996
> hierarchical classification of tool usage (levels 0-3)"
> then understanding conchoidal fracture is a level 07,
> thus leaving all our feathered and furry friends behind
> in the dust.

conch =3D conchoidal copy of stone to match seashell form,
useful for cutting tools eg. bait traps

[Pete]

Lee Olsen wrote:

> There is a difference between pulling twigs off a branch and
> using conchoidal fracture to make a STONE tool, which has
> never been observed either in the wild or in the lab.

This web page

http://lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-pages/2001julykanzichimp.-
htm

has a picture labeled "KANZI'S CUTTING FLAKE". The flake was
clearly the result of a conchoidal fracture, with the "bulb of
percussion" easily identifiable at the top of the flake.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22bulb+of+percussion%22-
&btnG=Google+Search

You almost seem to be saying that you think that making a
"conchoidal fracture" is a technique depending on how the
stone is hit, as if you don't realize that every flake knocked
off of a piece of flint, is a conchoidal fracture.

Am I misunderstanding?

--
pete

[Pete]

Lee Olsen wrote:

>>>>>>> Here the author has it wrong, because by definition a
>>>>>>> stone tool is:

> Nazi

> troll

> McGinn

> What has my writing got to do with the facts of stone tool
> definition?

Nothing.

--
pete