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Homo naledi
Homo naledi
Estimated age
236,000-335,000 years
Discovery location
Rising Star Cave, Dinaledi Chamber
Discovered by
Lee Berger and team (2013)
Significance
Over 1,500 fossil fragments representing at least 15 individuals were recovered, making it one of the most significant discoveries of the 21st century.
Scientific interpretation
Homo naledi had a small brain but human-like hands and feet. The placement of bodies deep in a difficult-to-access cave chamber has been interpreted as possible deliberate body disposal.
Archaeological evidence
Fossils were recovered from the Dinaledi Chamber, accessible only through a narrow chute deep within the Rising Star cave system.
Related publications
- Berger, L.R. et al. (2015). Homo naledi, a new species of the genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa. eLife.
- Dirks, P.H.G.M. et al. (2017). The age of Homo naledi and associated sediments in the Rising Star Cave. eLife.
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