Paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, a team of anthropologists, and “underground astronauts” have discovered a new human ancestor species.
UNCOVERING HOMO NALEDI: an ancient Human Ancestor?
Two years ago, after being tipped off by spelunkers, the team headed to the Rising Star cave system in Cradle of Human Kind, South Africa, to work on a project that would take several excavation attempts to complete. During the process, researchers even made use of social media to find six excavation scientists petite enough to fit through the tiny crevice that would eventually lead them to a chamber of more than 1,500 fossilized bones – from infants, children, adults and elderly individuals – belonging to our new ancient human ancestor, Homo naledi.
The name Homo naledi originates from the cave and the site the specimens were found in. Naledi means star in the South African Sesotho language. Interestingly, this species has a skeletal structure remarkably similar to that of a human, although it features differences in the mandible and overall skull size (the brain was most likely the size of an orange). Furthermore, the finger bones specimens are also curved in a way that seems to suggest that Homo naledi was adapting to climbing.
Ancient human ancestor utilized Proper Burials?
The chamber inside Rising Star Cave is believed to have been used as a burial site. The anthropologists surmise this because the skeletal remains appear to have been set there on purpose, rather than scattered. The only way to get into the cave, for example, is through an extremely small entrance, which hints at the possibility that it may have been ritualistic for Homo naledi to leave their dead there.
Moving forwards with the excavation
This complete dig is considered one of the most dangerous excavation attempts, as the six women who went into the 7 ½ inch crevice had to be barefoot so as to not disturb any of the remains or fragments. The dig lasted longer than three weeks and scientists managed to uncover over 1,500 bones during that time frame.
Unfortunately, the age of the fossils is still unknown. In time, more information will be revealed about our ancient human ancestor. The surface has just been scratched with Homo naledi, as there is so much more to explore in the Rising Star cave.
Photo Courtesy of eLIFE.
