Behavioural and archaeological signatures of nut-cracking accross primates

To understand our specie’s evolutionary history, archaeological research relies on interpreting tool remains. Primate stone technology allows to simultaneously investigate stone artefacts and the underlying behaviour – a combination the archaeological record has no access to. While percussive activities are suggested to be particularly relevant for the emergence of tool use, early hominin percussive behaviours are not well researched. I will present my Master’s thesis which compared the behavioural execution and tool surface modifications of nut-cracking of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus), capuchins (Sapajus libidinosus), and long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis).