Homo naledi Discovered in Rising Star Cave
2013-2015 (species dated 335,000-236,000 years ago) · Prehistoric
In 2013, cavers Rick Hunter and Steven Tucker found hominin fossils deep in the Dinaledi Chamber of South Africa's Rising Star Cave system. Lee Berger's team recovered over 1,550 specimens from at least 15 individuals, announcing them in 2015 as a new species: Homo naledi. With a brain volume of 465-610 cubic centimeters and a mosaic of curved fingers and Homo-like limb proportions, the species stood about 144 cm tall. Dating to 335,000-236,000 years ago placed H. naledi as contemporary with early Homo sapiens.
Key Figures
Lee Berger
Locations
Rising Star Cave
Topics
human evolutionpaleoanthropologyhominin speciescave excavationmorphological mosaicspecies classification
Connected Events — 4 Connections
H. naledi's dating to 335,000-236,000 years ago overlaps with the symbolic marking tradition at Blombos Cave, demonstrating hominin diversity during the emergence of abstract thought Symbolic Marking Tradition at Blombos Cave
H. naledi's survival period overlaps with established fire use by other hominins Earliest Evidence of Hominin Fire Use at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov
H. naledi lived alongside other Homo species, demonstrating hominin diversity in Africa Homo erectus: First Migration Out of Africa
Lee Berger later discovered Homo naledi in the same Cradle of Humankind region Australopithecus sediba Discovered at Malapa
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