Theoretical Review
Volume 30, No 1, Published March 30, 2015
DOI: https://…
Keywords: Culture, tradition, chimpanzee, technology, primate archaeology, universals.
ABSTRACT
Controversy surrounds the claim that non-humans are culture-bearing creatures, yet the field of cultural primatology continues to progress. Using the chimpanzee as an example, this essay recounts the historical background to cultural primatology and its stage-wise development from natural history to ethnography to ethnology. First, it summarises the case for cultural primatology being nonsense, based on human uniqueness, dependency, transmission mechanisms, special pleading, language, and cumulative culture. Then, it counters with the case for cultural primatology being a breakthrough, citing multi-level comparative studies, universals, nuanced variation, and primate archaeology. Taking into account the strength of this diverse but convergent evidence, the breakthrough verdict is favoured.
ISSN: 2224-4476
