Chimpanzee Material Culture: Implications for Human Evolution

by William C. McGrew

Book Overview

The chimpanzee, of all other living species, is our closest relation, with whom we last shared a common ancestor about 5 million years ago. These African apes make and use a rich and varied kit of tools, and of the primates they are the only consistent and habitual tool-users and tool-makers. Chimpanzees meet the criteria of culture as originally defined for human beings by socio-cultural anthropologists. They show sex differences in using tools to...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521423716
• ISBN13: 9780521423717
• Release Date: November 1992
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A major scientific work; should change our view of culture

McGrew's work has (perhaps predictably) not had the effect on social science that it deserves. He challenges the usual belief that human culture is unique in ALL respects by showing that variations in chimp tool kits are comparable to variations in human tool assemblages. A thoughtful, well-researched, and interesting study