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Science Forum Index » Anthropology - Paleo Forum » Chimpanzee archaeology...
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| Marc Verhaegen... |
 Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:42 pm |
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Chimpanzee-produced stone assemblages from the tropical forests of Taï,
Côte d'Ivoire
J Mercader, M Panger & C Boesch 2002
We report the results of the first archaeological excavation of a chimpanzee
(Pan troglodytes) nut-cracking site. Previous researchers have conducted
surface mapping and qualitative assessments of chimpanzee stone tools, and
the results have been compared with hominid archaeological remains. In some
cases, the similarity of stone hammers and anvils used by chimpanzees and
early hominids is striking. 'Chimpanzee archaeology' is a new field that has
the potential to expand our understanding of hominid tool use prior to the
earliest evidence of systematic stone flaking 2.5 Ma.
Our site, located in the Taï forest, Côte d'Ivoire, is called "Panda 100",
and lies on a platform formed by a meandering river. This place supported
a single Panda nut source and at least five root systems that were used as
anvils during recurrent and spatially constrained chimpanzee foraging
activities. In the course of nut-cracking, stone hammers often experience
unintentional damage and flaking. High rainfall triggers significant
rainwash and sediment yield across the site, and a good potential for quick
burial of behavioral remains. Archaeological excavation was in a fine matrix
of well-rounded coarse sands that naturally does not include larger
fractions. The thickness of the excavated deposit is more than 20 cm.
Chimpanzees obtained raw materials from nearby igneous outcrops of granite
and diorite, but also from lateritic sources. The artifactual evidence
comprises 479 artifacts and includes stone by-products such as flakes,
tabular pieces, edge fragments, shatter, and microdebitage.
Chimpanzee-produced stone assemblages from "Panda 100" resemble some Early
Stone Age industries from East Africa and provide new insights into the
nature of early hominid technology. |
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| Lee Olsen... |
| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:35 am |
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On Jun 11, 11:42 am, Marc Verhaegen <m_verhae... at (no spam) skynet.be> wrote:
Quote: Chimpanzee-produced stone assemblages from the tropical forests of Taï,
Côte d'Ivoire
J Mercader, M Panger & C Boesch 2002
snip
Quote: The artifactual evidence
comprises 479 artifacts and includes stone by-products such as flakes,
tabular pieces, edge fragments, shatter, and microdebitage.
Late Pliocene hominid knapping skills: The case of Lokalalei 2C, West
Turkana, Kenya
Anne Delagnes and Hélène Roche
Journal of Human Evolution
Volume 48, Issue 5, May 2005, Page 436
"It is evident that the Plio-Pleistocene hominids responsible for
making these earliest stone assemblages have moved far beyond the
stage of an unintentional production of dibris such as that resulting
from the accidental breakage of hammerstones at the nut-cracking loci
of chimpanzees (Mercader et al., 2002), which should not be mistaken
for intentional flaking. Late Pliocene stone-working is not technology
in its infancy."
Quote: Chimpanzee-produced stone assemblages from "Panda 100" resemble some Early
Stone Age industries from East Africa and provide new insights into the
nature of early hominid technology.
"resemble"???
Geofacts, made by natural causes, can also resemble some
Early Stone Age industries from East Africa. |
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| Dwight E. Howell... |
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:03 am |
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Lee Olsen wrote:
Quote: On Jun 11, 11:42 am, Marc Verhaegen <m_verhae... at (no spam) skynet.be> wrote:
Chimpanzee-produced stone assemblages from the tropical forests of Taï,
Côte d'Ivoire
J Mercader, M Panger & C Boesch 2002
snip
The artifactual evidence
comprises 479 artifacts and includes stone by-products such as flakes,
tabular pieces, edge fragments, shatter, and microdebitage.
Late Pliocene hominid knapping skills: The case of Lokalalei 2C, West
Turkana, Kenya
Anne Delagnes and Hélène Roche
Journal of Human Evolution
Volume 48, Issue 5, May 2005, Page 436
"It is evident that the Plio-Pleistocene hominids responsible for
making these earliest stone assemblages have moved far beyond the
stage of an unintentional production of dibris such as that resulting
from the accidental breakage of hammerstones at the nut-cracking loci
of chimpanzees (Mercader et al., 2002), which should not be mistaken
for intentional flaking. Late Pliocene stone-working is not technology
in its infancy."
Chimpanzee-produced stone assemblages from "Panda 100" resemble some Early
Stone Age industries from East Africa and provide new insights into the
nature of early hominid technology.
"resemble"???
Geofacts, made by natural causes, can also resemble some
Early Stone Age industries from East Africa.
To put it another way this is the stuff that most likely doesn't ever
even get noticed.
Read Toth. I'm not sure he has written anything in years but his work is
still the best I've seen on the earliest recognizable stone age. I don't
seem to recall him getting to carried away about being certain what the
tool makers looked like. We got a lot of tools and not that many hominid
remains. |
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