Homo naledi

Homo naledi Temporal range: Pleistocene (Lower Paleolithic) PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Family:	Hominidae
Genus:	Homo
Species:	†Homo naledi

Homo naledi is an extinct species of Homo that lived in southern Africa 335,000 to 236,000 years ago. It had many features similar too earlier species such as Homo habilis, but some studies suggest it may have buried its dead, though this is still a topic of much debate.

Discovery

The first remains of Homo naledi were unearthed in 2013, from rising star cave. A group of anthropologists led by Lee Berger, nicknamed "underground astronauts" trekked through the tunnels and chutes. They remains were named Homo naledi in 2015 which means "star man".

Classification

The remains were originally thought to be a early Homo species, like Homo habilis, but they were later dated to around 300,000 years old. It is now believed that H. naledi is an early offshoot of Homo erectus.

Anatomy

Homo naledi a brain capacity similar to Australopithecus and early Homo. Their height was in the range of 4'9" and they weighed around 88lbs. H. naledi's lower jaw projected forward more than other species that lived at the same time, such as the Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. A study of their hand structure showed that they were adapted to rock climbing and life in caves.

Culture

In rising star cave, the location where Homo naledi was discovered, there is evidence that H. naledi disposed of their dead in a very modern way. At the bottom of a large chute was where many of the fossils where discovered, the chute is very inaccessible raising the question on how the bones got there. One theory suggests that H, naledi was intentionally disposing of the bodies here in some kind of ritual burial. Skeptics point out that the bones may have been washed in during a flood or similar natural event. No stone tools have been found with H. naledi though it is highly likely that they were capable of making them. In 2025 a new study revived the burial theory and added more validity to it.

Interactions with Other Homo Species

Homo naledi overlapped geographically and during the same time Homo sapiens emerged. It is unknown whether or not they interbred.