Monkeys Smashing Nuts Hint at How Human Tool Use Evolved
Human beings used to be defined as “the tool-maker” species. But the uniqueness of this description was challenged in the 1960s when Dr. Jane Goodall discovered that chimpanzees will pick and modify grass stems to use to collect termites. Her observations called into question homo sapiens‘ very place in the world. Since then scientists’ knowledge of animal tool use has expanded exponentially.
Announcing the Joan Cogswell Donner Field School Scholarship
The Leakey Foundation is proud to announce the Joan Cogswell Donner Field School Scholarship which will provide grants of up to $2,000 to students from countries where there are abundant scientific resources but limited resources for academic development.
Chimpanzees more likely to share tools, teach skills when task is complex
Teach a chimpanzee to fish for insects to eat, and you feed her for a lifetime. Teach her a better way to use tools in gathering prey, and you may change the course of evolution.
Indonesian Cave Paintings Show the Dawn of Imaginative Art
This hunting scene, painted 44,000 years ago, is the oldest known work of representational art in the world. Ratno Sardi, Author provided
By Adam Brumm, Griffith University; Adhi Oktaviana, Griffith University, and Maxime Aubert, Griffith University
Our team has discovered a cave painting in Indonesia that is at least 44,000 years old and which may cast new light on the<br>
Giving Tuesday Donations Will Be Matched
This Giving Tuesday, all donations up to $5,000 will be quadruple-matched, thanks to Gordon and Ann Getty and Leakey Foundation Fellow Gianni Amato. All donations above that amount will be doubled.