“Our study raises the possibility that perceptual processes differ between humans and other primates in ways consequential for flaking stones,” Mangalam said.

The full study is available at http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/14/1/20170587

Image: A wild bearded capuchin monkey is striking an intact piaçava nut with a quartzite stone hammer (Credit: Dorothy M. Fragaszy).