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The perhaps most important physical evidence concerning the question of hominoid cognitive abilities is the "australopithecine" jasperite cobble from the cave of Makapanagat, South Africa. Although excavated in 1925. it was not closely examined until 1997. This paper reports the findings of this examination. Much of the cobble's long and complex history is reconstructed on the basis of an array of surface markings and residues of various types. The object is found to be an entirely natural product, a manuport that was carried into the cave. The author agrees with previous commentators that this was probably because of the colour and very prominent markings of the cobble. which implies a rudimentary australopithecine ability to appreciate the unusual properties of the object. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]