A research paper published in the journal Current Biology has unveiled that wild capuchin monkeys in Brazil open cashew nuts using stone tools. Main interesting revelation is that they have been doing it for at least 700 years.
Primate archaeologist Michael Haslam, from the University of Oxford and team has found evidence explaining how monkeys have survived on hard-shelled fruits and seeds in the Northeast Brazil. From the research, it was found that primates were having novel ways to have food items available to them.
The researchers have noticed how the young capuchin monkeys in the Serra da Capivara National Park in Brazil have learnt usage of stone tools from older monkeys. One more thing being noticed by the researchers was that the capuchins were particular with the materials they use.
Haslam said that they have even excavated food-processing site near cashew trees in order to find out of the tool technology has developed over the time. During the excavation, the researchers came across 69 stones that were being used by earlier generations of capuchin monkeys. Carbon-dating was carried out on them and they were found to be at least 600 to 700 years old.
From the assessment, it has been found that the technology has not been changed over the time. The researchers said that the monkeys are not like humans and do not prefer to change the tools that they use.
“Wild capuchins at Serra da Capivara National Park (SCNP) use stones to pound open defended food, including locally indigenous cashew nuts and we demonstrate that this activity dates back at least 600 to 700 years”, affirmed Haslam.