Baboon Palm Nut Harvesters in Ancient Egypt: New (Ancient) Evidence, New Questions

Citation

Deputte BL & Anderson J (2009) Baboon Palm Nut Harvesters in Ancient Egypt: New (Ancient) Evidence, New Questions. Folia Primatologica, 80 (2), pp. 70-73. https://doi.org/10.1159/000214225

Abstract
It is well documented that hamadryas baboons were used by the ancient Egyptians to pick fruits, but it is not well known that these baboons were also used to collect palm nuts. We describe this practice as it is depicted on a painting on a rarely exhibited ancient Egyptian artefact. Striking similarities with the modern use of pig-tailed macaques as coconut harvesters are described, raising new questions about the demise of the practice in Africa and its continuation in South-East Asia.

Keywords
AFRICA; ASIA; baboons; EGYPT; evidence; macaques; Practice; similarity

Journal
Folia Primatologica: Volume 80, Issue 2