Revisiting the fourth dimension of tool use: how objects become tools for capuchin monkeys

Abstract

Culture allows humans to adapt to a diversity of contexts. Participatory experience in technical activities and activity with artefacts provide the basis for learning traditional technical skills. Some populations of non-human animals use tools. The ways in which artefacts influence the development of a traditional skill in non-human species can provide insight into essential supports for technical traditions in humans and shared learning processes across species. In wild bearded capuchins, nut cracking leaves edible pieces of nuts, nut shells and stones used as hammers at anvil sites. We addressed how mastery of cracking nuts by young monkeys is associated with interactions with these objects. We studied monkeys’ reuse of nuts, hammers and anvils and the outcome of attempts to crack nuts, and from these data derived their behavioural variability and proficiency in nut cracking. Behavioural variability was the most robust predictor of whether a monkey collects pieces of nuts cracked by others or reuses stones and nuts, and was a stronger predictor of proficiency than age. Young monkeys were increasingly likely to reuse the stone used by another after the other monkey had left the anvil as they increasingly focused their behaviour on actions relevant to cracking nuts.

Keywords

• animal traditions
• practice
• development
• tool
• artefact