'Nothing like this had been seen before and it gave me goose bumps': You'll never believe what these chimps have done!

New footage of chimpanzees in West Africa shows the mammals piling rocks against trees and filling them for what appears to be no reason - but such behaviors may be an indication of early ritualistic behaviors.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Have the chimps found Jesus?

Researchers believe the chimps can help them understand humanity's history - specifically the evolution of rituals, shrine creation and the use of tools.

Chimpanzees are one of several animals known to use tools to reach food, make their lives more comfortable and even clean up after themselves.

What makes these chimps different is that their actions don't appear to serve a purpose.

The video, set by PhD. student Laura Kehoe, shows the chimps throwing stones to create what may be a shrine of sorts. They also display unusual behavior as they approach the tree.

Kehoe has tentatively suggested, "Maybe we found the first evidence of chimpanzees creating a kind of shrine that could indicate sacred trees."

One researcher admitted early stone buildings, piles and use in burials served as ancient examples of religious behavior in man's history, which was "eerily similar to what we have discovered here."

"Nothing like this had been seen before and it gave me goose bumps," Kehoe wrote.

"Marking pathways and territories with signposts such as piles of rocks is an important step in human history," Kehoe added. "Figuring out where chimps' territories are in relation to rock throwing sites could give us insights into whether this is the case here."

Are chimpanzees erected shrines and performing rituals as early signs of religious beliefs? Probably not, but it is certainly something worth looking into.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'