Lutra 53(1)_van der Grift_Editorial_2010

Tools

What is life without tools? For most of us, life may seem impossible without tools. Tool making and tool use is, without doubt, an indispensable part of human society, whether we live in the developed world or in more ‘primitive’ societies that still rely on hand tools for agriculture, hunting or gathering. Tools, although they differ in complexity, are used by all humans. In the animal world the use of tools is rare. Primates are best known for their capability to recognise or design tools that may be of help in collecting food. In West Africa, for example, chimpanzees are known to use “fishing rods” to gather ants and termites, sticks to chase prey out of their dens, “shovels” to dig up roots and turnips and “hammers” to crack nuts. Remarkably,....