A controversial new study finds that rock bashing by wild long-tailed macaques in Thailand resembles tools made by early human relatives more than 3 million years ago.
have done so for more than 4000 years. In 2016, scientists showed Burmese long-tailed macaques on Thailand’s Piak Nam Yai Island have been using stones to pry open oysters for at least 65 years, spanning two generations or more.
Lydia Luncz, a primatologist also at the Max Planck Institute and a co-author of the new study, first recognized the macaques’ stone-flaking behavior in 2016. In a palm forest perched on top of a limestone cliff, she stumbled over “what looked like a nut-cracking site,” she said, similar to ones she’d seen left behind by Ivory Coast chimpanzees.
In 2017 and 2021, the researchers collected 1119 pieces of stone debris from 40 nut-cracking sites on Yao Noi Island in Lobi Bay. Next, they compared the macaquemade flakes with stone material dating from 3.3 million to 2 million years ago from archaeological sites in Africa. Other researchers strongly disagree with the team’s analysis. Sonia Harmand, an archaeologist also at Stony Brook, says the new study merely shows “random, accidental detachment of fragments without any specific organization or control.” Furthermore, she argues, “to prove flaking, you don’t look at the flakes primarily; you look at the cores,” meaning the hammer stones.“can you read the intention, the deliberate organization of the removals [of flakes].
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SEC of Thailand wants public feedback on crypto lending, staking banThailand’s SEC is seeking public comments on a draft regulation prohibiting VASPs from providing or getting involved in any type of crypto staking and lending transactions.
Read more »
Thailand’s Censors Get Heavy With Horror Film ‘Hoon Payon’Thailand’s film censors have upset the release of local horror movie “Hoon Payon,” which should have arrived in cinemas pn Thursday. The film had a successful world premiere screening on Tuesday at…
Read more »
Why NHRA Top Fuel Champion Brittany Force Is Already Feeling 'Gut Aches' of New SeasonPep Boys All-Star Callout bonus race throws an extra monkey-wrench into tension-filled opener at Gainesville, Fla.
Read more »
Why NHRA Top Fuel Champion Brittany Force Is Already Feeling 'Gut Aches' of New SeasonPep Boys All-Star Callout bonus race throws an extra monkey-wrench into tension-filled opener at Gainesville, Fla.
Read more »
Some monkeys accidentally make stone flakes that resemble ancient hominid toolsA study of Thailand macaques raises questions about whether some Stone Age cutting tools were products of planning or chance.
Read more »
Thai man sentenced to 2 years for selling calendars that allegedly mocked the country's monarchNarathorn Chotmankongsin, a man from Thailand, was sentenced to two years in prison for selling calendars that mocked the country's monarch
Read more »