Holocene capuchin-monkey stone tool deposits shed doubts on the human origin of archeological sites from the Pleistocene of Brazil

Abstract

New World capuchin monkeys are well-known by their ability to solve problems using stone tools that have the characteristics and morphology of some human-made stone tools. The aim of the present contribution is to carry out brief comparisons between the Pleistocene archeological sites from Brazil (e.g. Pedra Furada, Sitio do Meio, Vale da Pedra Furada, Toca da Tira Peia) and capuchin-made stone tool deposits. Pleistocene sites from Brazil are characterized by the exclusive use of immediately available raw material, the predominance of unifacial flaking, and abundance of cortical flakes, together with the absence of blades and bifacial thinning techniques. In all these aspects, the sites resemble capuchin-made lithic deposits and lack a number of human attributes. In sum, based on positive and negative evidence we are confident that the early archeological sites from Brazil may not be human-derived but may belong to capuchin monkeys.

Primate archaeology 3.0

“…Because of primate archaeology, ideas about a nonhuman origin for ancient archaeological records, previously attributed to humans, have begun to be taken seriously after important discoveries focused on capuchin monkeys (Agnolín & Agnolín, 2022;Proffitt et al, 2016).…”

“…This acknowledgment has allowed investigations of the varying signatures left by nonhuman technological primate populations and has paved the way for ground‐breaking studies that have pushed the boundaries of the archaeological status quo . Because of primate archaeology, ideas about a nonhuman origin for ancient archaeological records, previously attributed to humans, have begun to be taken seriously after important discoveries focused on capuchin monkeys (Agnolín & Agnolín, 2022; Proffitt et al, 2016).…”

Stone Tools and Our Primate Relatives

“…However, the stones of capuchins are less sophisticated, with traits such as exclusively unimarginal modification that align with the appearance of Oldowan tools and the purported pre-Clovis stones of Vale da Pedra Furada. Hence, some scholars (Agnolín and Agnolín 2023) are proponents of the notion that bearded capuchin monkeys have played a part in forming the stone items at archaeologically controversial sites in South America. As discussed within the second section, however, the significant lithic evolution of capuchins over the past three millennia and their spatiotemporal overlap with howler monkeys suggests that other primates could have played a part in the production of stone items at archaeologically controversial sites in the neotropics.…”

“…In fact, Agustín M. Agnolín and Federico L. Agnolín (2023) utilized the existence of various morphological similarities between capuchin lithics and the exclusively unifacially-modified lithics from supposed pre-Clovis Brazilian sites-including Vale da Pedra Furada-to assert that capuchin monkeys may have been the true agents behind the purported artifacts at such sites. This is unlikely, however, due to the fact that capuchins have made substantial progress within the last few thousand years in the way they use stones.…”

Geomorphology and sedimentology of the Cerro Benítez of the cavities (Patagonia, Chile): genesis and evolution of a megafauna sedimentary trap during the last glaciation

“…Plusieurs auteurs contestent la nature anthropique du matériel d'âge pléistocène mis au jour à Pedra Furada. Les galets chauffés et les fragments de charbon ont été attribués à des incendies naturels (Borrero, 1995 ;Gómez Coutouly, 2022), tandis que les galets à faces de débitage ont été attribués à des singes capucins (Fiedel, 2017 ;Agnolin et Agnolin, 2022 ;Gómez Coutouly, 2022). De récents travaux conduits dans le nord-est du Brésil (Proffitt et al, 2016 ;Falótico et al, 2019) documentent en effet la production accidentelle de galets à face de débitage par les singes capucins au vingt-et-unième siècle et durant l'Holocène.…”