Chimps and Early Humans Share Tool-Choosing Skills, Study Reveals!

A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Human Evolution has revealed intriguing parallels between how modern chimpanzees and early human ancestors selected tools. This research sheds new light on the evolutionary roots of tool use, connecting our present-day primate relatives with the behaviours of hominins from over 2.5 million years ago.

Chimps and Ancient Humans: A Shared Approach to Tool Selection

The study, conducted by a team of international paleobiologists, anthropologists, and behavioural scientists, focused on how chimpanzees in Bossou, Guinea, use stone tools to crack nuts. The chimps demonstrated a methodical approach when selecting stones, much like the Oldowan hominins—some of the earliest-known human ancestors to use tools.

Chimpanzees were observed using two key tools: a hammer to strike the nut and an anvil to stabilise it. Researchers provided the chimps with stones of varying hardness, weight, shape, and durability to examine their preferences. Remarkably, the chimps consistently opted for harder stones as hammers and softer, more stable stones as anvils, prioritising their practical utility over superficial appearance.

This behaviour mirrors the deliberate selection of stones by Oldowan hominins, who crafted tools for chopping, cutting, and scraping. These early humans demonstrated an increasing ability to identify stones with desirable mechanical properties, indicating a deep understanding of their functional benefits.

Photo Credit: D. R. Braunet al., Journal of Human Evolution (2024)

Practical Choices and Cultural Learning

One fascinating aspect of the study was the social element of chimpanzee tool use. Younger chimps often mimicked the tool choices of older, more experienced members of their group. This behaviour resembles the cultural transmission seen in early human societies, where survival skills and tool-making techniques were passed down through generations. This sharing of knowledge likely played a critical role in technological advancements and adaptation to changing environments.

A Glimpse Into the Past

These findings have significant implications for the field of primate archaeology, which bridges modern primate behaviour with the archaeological record of ancient hominins. Since chimpanzees share about 98% of our DNA, studying their actions provides valuable clues about the environmental and social pressures that shaped early human tool use.

Interestingly, Oldowan hominins didn’t just select stones—they often transported them over long distances, highlighting their advanced understanding of material properties. This ability to plan and select the right tools based on their utility echoes the thoughtful choices seen in chimpanzees today.

Looking Ahead

As researchers continue to uncover the evolutionary roots of tool use, studies like this offer an exciting glimpse into how behaviours observed in modern primates may reflect the cognitive and social capabilities of our ancestors. By understanding the past, we gain a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity that defines our shared history with these remarkable creatures.

The next time you see a chimp cracking open a nut, consider this: they might just be echoing the wisdom of ancient hands from millions of years ago.