Homo naledi

Homo naledi is an extinct hominin species known from fossils found in South Africa’s Rising Star Cave system. Its mix of primitive and more human-like anatomical traits complicates interpretations of human evolution.

Hominini: Hominini is the primate group that includes modern humans and extinct species more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees. Homo naledi is classified within this branch of the human lineage.
Rising Star Cave: Rising Star Cave is a cave system in South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind region. Its Dinaledi and Lesedi chambers yielded the principal Homo naledi fossil collections.
Bipedalism: Bipedalism is locomotion using two legs as the primary means of movement. Homo naledi had lower-limb and pelvic anatomy consistent with habitual upright walking.
U–Th dating: Uranium–thorium dating estimates the age of calcium-carbonate deposits from the decay of uranium isotopes into thorium. It helped constrain the age of cave deposits associated with Homo naledi fossils.
Deliberate burial: Deliberate burial is the intentional placement of a dead body in a grave or other prepared location. Researchers disagree about whether Homo naledi individuals were deliberately placed in the cave chambers.
Homo: Homo is the genus of living humans and several extinct human species. The species name places Homo naledi within this genus.
Dinaledi Chamber: Dinaledi Chamber is a fossil-bearing chamber within the Rising Star Cave system in South Africa. The chamber produced the first large assemblage assigned to Homo naledi.
Arboreal locomotion: Arboreal locomotion is movement through trees using climbing, grasping, or leaping. Its curved fingers and shoulder features have been interpreted as retaining climbing adaptations.
Homo erectus: Homo erectus is an extinct human species known for its long geographic range and relatively large brain compared with earlier hominins. Its anatomy and evolutionary history provide a comparison for assessing Homo naledi’s place in Homo.
Mortuary practice: Mortuary practice comprises cultural actions surrounding death and the treatment of the dead. Claims about Homo naledi’s treatment of its dead remain contested and difficult to establish.

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