The stone tools of capuchins (Cebus apella)

Abstract

We examined the production of stone took by capuchins (Cebus apella ). Eleven subjects used five reduction techniques to produce 346 stone tools (48 cores and 298 flakes). They produced a sharp edge on 83% of the cores and largest flakes. Three monkeys later used a sample of these objects as cutting tools. These results demonstrate that monkeys produce lithic tools analogous to those produced by Oldowan hominids. © 1995 Plenum Publishing Corporation.