New Human-Like Species Discovered In South African Cave

New Human-Like Species Discovered In South African Cave

Recently, scientists have found out a new human-like species in a burial chamber deep in a cave system in South Africa. 15 partial skeletons are the largest discovery of its type in Africa.

The researchers say that the discovery is revolutionary. It will change ideas about our human ancestors.

This species has been named naledi. It has been classified in the grouping, or genus, Homo, to which modern humans belong. The researchers suppose that these creatures could be among the first of our kind (genus Homo) and could have lived in Africa up to three million years ago. Also naledi could be thought of as a “bridge” between more primitive bipedal primates and humans.

The scientist who led the team, Prof Lee Berger, told BBC News: “We’d gone in with the idea of recovering one fossil. That turned into multiple fossils. That turned into the discovery of multiple skeletons and multiple individuals. And so by the end of that remarkable 21-day experience, we had discovered the largest assemblage of fossil human relatives ever discovered in the history of the continent of Africa. That was an extraordinary experience.”

The haul of 15 partial skeletons includes both males and females of varying ages – from infants to elderly. Scientists were astonished to see how well preserved the bones were. The skull, teeth and feet of one of the finds looked as if they belonged to a human child – even though the skeleton was that of an elderly female.

It is worth to notice, that homo naledi is unlike any primitive human found in Africa. It has a tiny brain (about the size of a gorilla’s) and a primitive pelvis and shoulders. But it is put into the same genus as humans, because of the more progressive shape of its skull, relatively small teeth, characteristic long legs and modern-looking feet.

Source: BBC News