Originally posted by Cruizer
There is one huge factor against this theory- simply the lack of an opposable thumb in non-primates. 3 clawed digits on a Theropod limb do not
qualify. How is it postulated that a dinosaur grasped a "tool"? I suppose that one could have held a tree limb in its mouth and used it to turn
over loose rocks. Really? We've never seen canines, dolphins, horses or crocodiles do that. Of course no wood-based impliment could have survived
the ages and simple teeth marks would not be conclusive if it did.
I do distinguish the use of tools, with the making of tools, though related they are two separate things.
The use of a rock by some birds to break open eggs is the use of a tool, the building of bowers to lure a mate is making a tool, though rudimentary,
and more instinctual, than something learned.. Though males do get better at building bowers as they mature, the basic instinct is already hard wired
in.
However, there are birds that make and use tools to gather foods. They will take and modiy thorns to grab grubs out of wood, for example.
That is a learn behaviour, as my memory tells me, though I grant, I could very well remember incorrectly.
Originally posted by Cruizer
What is a tool anyhow? An animal has to weild the tool with the idea of an end result not aimless coincidental motion. A chimpanzee uses a blade of
grass as a "tool" in that he sticks it into a termite mound and withdraws it and eats the insects clinging to it. Primates in the great ape
category do not make tools either.
You should really read some of Jane Goodalls work. Chimp don't just take a piece of grass, they pick certain types of twigs and grass, and modify it.
In fact, they make and modify different types of twigs and grass depending on the bug they are going for.
Not only that, but they are known to make use of external objects when making threat displays. One chimp was infamous for dragging around water jugs,
incase he needed to make a point while not in the camp.
They also make use of a crude sponge for drinking, chewing leaves to sop water up, rather than lean over into water.
This is rundematary tool building and use, and it is a learned behavior, not instinct.
Originally posted by Cruizer
Ancient hominids probably used some tools they found handy. But certainly they didn't purposfully put together tool kits as ancient Homo did. Even
so Homo Erectus didn't gather a tool kit of assorted sized stones and flints for use in varying ways as Homo Habilis did. We know because the tools
were found where they lived and died.
Actually they have found that indeed they did have a tool kit of sorts, as archeologists have found tools that were made of non idigenous rocks to the
area they were found in.
In other words, they had to be carried in.
Also, they used different tools for different things, skin scrapping, knacking flints, cutting sticks for arrows, and spears.
To assume that the ancients did not have a "tool kit" would most likely to be incoorect.
If they knew enough to use tools, certainly they recognized the difficulty of creating them, and would in all likelyhood have several tools handy
incase of loss or breakage, even if they had to tuck their favorite clam cracker under an armpit.
