{"id":{"repo_id":"cambridge","oai_identifier":"oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/369100"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cambridge/oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/369100","repository":{"repo_id":"cambridge","name":"Cambridge University","base_url":"https://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Drumming Trees and Stone Percussion: An Evolution of Rhythm","abstract":"In the tapestry of human evolution, rhythm emerges as a luminous thread that weaves through the fabric of existence. In the context of evolutionary dynamics, rhythm's influence emerges as a pivotal force. Beyond its functional utility, rhythmic patterns become conduits for comprehension and empathy. As human development progressed, the capacity to perceive and decode the nuances of rhythm facilitated the exchange of knowledge, nurturing cooperation and social harmony. With active and attentive rhythm perception, individuals contributed substantially to the thriving and evolution of their communities. The significance of rhythm is not confined to a mere skill but rather a catalyst propelling cultural and societal advancements. Two empirical studies in this thesis address rhythm use and its advantages, which present novel methodologies to visualise and evaluate rhythmicity. The first half of the thesis focuses on buttress drumming in wild chimpanzees as a cultural communication system. The second half of the thesis examines rhythmicity in tool use and manufacture, culminating in an experimental archaeology study that assesses rhythm and Achulean hand-axe quality. *Chimpanzee Buttress Drumming* examines rhythmicity where research in primate percussive behaviour remains limited. This study obtained 106 buttress drumming videos from camera traps deployed between January 2012 and July 2022 in two neighbouring chimpanzee communities from the Seringbara Valley in West Africa, Guinea. This analysis investigates variations in drumming bouts by employing a novel methodology, the lexicon technique. By investigating chimpanzee buttress drumming, this study will provide insights into the complexity of communication and cultural transmission in animals and demonstrate rhythmic entrainment. By highlighting variation and combinatoriality in buttress drumming in chimpanzees' rhythm and rhythmic patternation, this study contributes to our understanding of the complexity and cultural aspects of chimpanzee long-distance communication. The findings enhance our knowledge of animal communication beyond vocalisations, paving the way for future research on how animals express and transmit cultural knowledge. *Rhythm and Tool Use* assesses rhythmicity in percussive activities, nut-cracking for chimpanzees, and flintknapping in humans. This research builds on earlier studies demonstrating the positive effects of rhythmic group activities in humans, exploring the constructive impact of music and rhythmic patterns in labour-related tasks. The thesis highlights rhythmic systems requiring social or cultural entrainment by differentiating between pulse and metre perception. From this, the second half of the thesis explores the potential correlation between rhythmic proficiency and physical abilities such as nutcracking and flintknapping. These studies aim to elucidate whether inherent rhythmicity confers advantages during the initial stages of being introduced to knapping techniques. By delving into rhythmic proficiency within tool use, this thesis contributes to understanding the correlations between motor skills, lithic industries, synchrony, and cognitive evolution. These studies urge for continued research human behaviour and material culture's coevolution. This thesis' examination of rhythmicity in contemporary chimpanzee buttress tree drumming and human flint-knapping demonstrates a novel and interdisciplinary approach to considering auditory and synchronous behaviours within the context of evolution.","abstract_html":"In the tapestry of human evolution, rhythm emerges as a luminous thread that weaves through the fabric of existence. In the context of evolutionary dynamics, rhythm's influence emerges as a pivotal force. Beyond its functional utility, rhythmic patterns become conduits for comprehension and empathy. As human development progressed, the capacity to perceive and decode the nuances of rhythm facilitated the exchange of knowledge, nurturing cooperation and social harmony. With active and attentive rhythm perception, individuals contributed substantially to the thriving and evolution of their communities. The significance of rhythm is not confined to a mere skill but rather a catalyst propelling cultural and societal advancements. Two empirical studies in this thesis address rhythm use and its advantages, which present novel methodologies to visualise and evaluate rhythmicity. The first half of the thesis focuses on buttress drumming in wild chimpanzees as a cultural communication system. The second half of the thesis examines rhythmicity in tool use and manufacture, culminating in an experimental archaeology study that assesses rhythm and Achulean hand-axe quality. *Chimpanzee Buttress Drumming* examines rhythmicity where research in primate percussive behaviour remains limited. This study obtained 106 buttress drumming videos from camera traps deployed between January 2012 and July 2022 in two neighbouring chimpanzee communities from the Seringbara Valley in West Africa, Guinea. This analysis investigates variations in drumming bouts by employing a novel methodology, the lexicon technique. By investigating chimpanzee buttress drumming, this study will provide insights into the complexity of communication and cultural transmission in animals and demonstrate rhythmic entrainment. By highlighting variation and combinatoriality in buttress drumming in chimpanzees' rhythm and rhythmic patternation, this study contributes to our understanding of the complexity and cultural aspects of chimpanzee long-distance communication. The findings enhance our knowledge of animal communication beyond vocalisations, paving the way for future research on how animals express and transmit cultural knowledge. *Rhythm and Tool Use* assesses rhythmicity in percussive activities, nut-cracking for chimpanzees, and flintknapping in humans. This research builds on earlier studies demonstrating the positive effects of rhythmic group activities in humans, exploring the constructive impact of music and rhythmic patterns in labour-related tasks. The thesis highlights rhythmic systems requiring social or cultural entrainment by differentiating between pulse and metre perception. From this, the second half of the thesis explores the potential correlation between rhythmic proficiency and physical abilities such as nutcracking and flintknapping. These studies aim to elucidate whether inherent rhythmicity confers advantages during the initial stages of being introduced to knapping techniques. By delving into rhythmic proficiency within tool use, this thesis contributes to understanding the correlations between motor skills, lithic industries, synchrony, and cognitive evolution. These studies urge for continued research human behaviour and material culture's coevolution. This thesis' examination of rhythmicity in contemporary chimpanzee buttress tree drumming and human flint-knapping demonstrates a novel and interdisciplinary approach to considering auditory and synchronous behaviours within the context of evolution.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Pham, Victoria Anh-Vy"],"institution":"University of Cambridge","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Foley, Robert","Kershenbaum, Arik"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-11-08","date_published":"2023-11-08","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:24:28Z","subjects":["bioacoustics","communication","lithic technology","primates","rhythm","sound evolution","sound signalling"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/7c148655-3983-469a-879c-50f72ce49a93/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.109043","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.doi"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Foley, Robert","Kershenbaum, Arik"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["Cambridge Trust International Scholarship Society for the Study of Human Biology Research Grant"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Pham, Victoria Anh-Vy"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2023-11-08"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cambridge"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby.uri","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby URI","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/369100"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["bioacoustics","communication","lithic technology","primates","rhythm","sound evolution","sound signalling"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/7c148655-3983-469a-879c-50f72ce49a93/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.109043"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/9f3be142-781f-4a6a-802d-38b59ca3c5a4/download"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In the tapestry of human evolution, rhythm emerges as a luminous thread that weaves through the fabric of existence. 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