Population connectivity shapes the distribution and complexity of chimpanzee cumulative culture

Although cumulative culture is a hallmark of hominin evolution, its origins can be traced back to our common ancestor with chimpanzees. Here, we investigated the evolutionary origins of chimpanzee cumulative culture and why it remained incipient. To trace cultural transmission among the four chimpanzee subspecies, we compared population networks based on genetic markers of recent migration and shared cultural traits. We show that limited levels of group connectivity favored the emergence of a few instances of cumulative culture in chimpanzees. As in humans, cultural complexification likely happened in steps, with transmission between populations, incremental changes, and repurposing of technologies. We propose that divergence in social patterns led to increased mobility between groups in the genus <i>Homo</i>, resulting in irreversible dependence on cultural exchange and complexification.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science
Published
2024-11-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adk3381
Citations
17
Primary Topic
Primate Behavior and Ecology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
10.94
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article

Population connectivity shapes the distribution and complexity of chimpanzee cumulative culture

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17 citations
Science
Primate Behavior and Ecology
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Population connectivity shapes the distribution and complexity of chimpanzee cumulative culture

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article en
17 citations

Abstract

Although cumulative culture is a hallmark of hominin evolution, its origins can be traced back to our common ancestor with chimpanzees. Here, we investigated the evolutionary origins of chimpanzee cumulative culture and why it remained incipient. To trace cultural transmission among the four chimpanzee subspecies, we compared population networks based on genetic markers of recent migration and shared cultural traits. We show that limited levels of group connectivity favored the emergence of a few instances of cumulative culture in chimpanzees. As in humans, cultural complexification likely happened in steps, with transmission between populations, incremental changes, and repurposing of technologies. We propose that divergence in social patterns led to increased mobility between groups in the genus <i>Homo</i>, resulting in irreversible dependence on cultural exchange and complexification.

ScienceVol. 386(6724)
University of St Andrews (GB), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES), Central European University (AT), University of Zurich (CH), University of Cambridge (GB), Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (DE), Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (ES)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Primate Behavior and Ecology
10.94
DOISourceOpenAlex
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