Homo naledi

Homo naledi is an extinct species of hominin in the genus Homo, first announced in 2015 from fossils found in South Africa’s Rising Star cave system.

Homo naledi is an extinct species of hominin in the genus Homo, first announced in 2015 from fossils found in South Africa’s Rising Star cave system. It is known for a mix of human-like and more primitive anatomical traits, and dated fossils place it in the later Middle Pleistocene, between about 335,000 and 236,000 years ago.

Discovery and naming

Homo naledi was announced in 2015 after fossils were recovered from the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system in South Africa. The species name comes from the Sotho word for 'star' and refers to the cave system where it was found.

Anatomy

The species is notable for its unusual combination of traits. It had a small brain, but its hands and feet were relatively human-like, while other parts of the skeleton retained more primitive characteristics, including the skull, trunk, shoulder, and pelvis.

Age and fossils

Initial estimates suggested a much older age, but later direct dating placed the fossils at about 335,000 to 236,000 years old. The assemblage includes more than 1,500 specimens from at least 15 individuals, making it one of the largest hominin fossil assemblages found in Africa.

Scientific significance

Homo naledi has drawn attention because it lived surprisingly late for a hominin with a relatively small brain and archaic traits. Its discovery has affected debates about the diversity and timing of human evolution in Africa, and researchers have described it as not being a direct ancestor of modern humans.