Homo naledi May Have Buried Their Dead, Engraved Cave Walls 300,000 Years Ago

New research is challenging previous assumptions as it indicates that Homo naledi, an extinct human species with a brain size one-third the size of modern people, engaged in burial practices and engraved cave walls approximately 300,000 years ago. This finding contradicts long-standing theories that only modern humans and Neanderthals possessed the capacity for such complex activities.

However, Live Science reported that some experts remain cautious about drawing definitive conclusions regarding Homo naledi's burial and memorialization practices. Sheela Athreya, an anthropologist at Texas A&M University not involved in the research, acknowledges the connections made based on the data but believes that more caveats should have been included in the report.

(Photo : WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images)
This photograph taken in Johannesburg on November 4, 2021 shows a full-scale reproduction of the skull of a hominid named Leti, named after a seTswana word "letimela" meaning "the lost one", found inside the Rising Star Cave System at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site near Maropeng. The latest find adds to the riddle surrounding Homo naledi.

Evidence on Burial and Engraved Cave Walls Suggest Complex Behaviors

Homo naledi fossils were discovered in South Africa's Rising Star Cave system in 2013. Since then, more than 1,500 skeleton fragments from various individuals have been discovered throughout the cave system. 

These bipedal creatures, standing around 5 feet tall and weighing 100 pounds, had dexterous hands and relatively small but complex brains, which sparked debates about their behavioral complexity. In a 2017 study, the Rising Star team suggested that H. naledi intentionally buried their dead within the cave system.

To further support this claim, three new studies published on the preprint server bioRxiv provide substantial evidence that H. naledi engaged in purposeful burial and created engravings on the cave walls. The research describes oval-shaped pits in one chamber of the cave system, containing skeletal remains consistent with burial practices.

One burial even featured a stone item near the hand and wrist bones, which might have been a grave gift. If adopted, these interpretations would push back the earliest evidence of planned burial by 100,000 years, breaking Homo sapiens' previous record.

In addition to burial practices, abstract engravings found on the cave walls suggest that H. naledi exhibited complex behavior. The engravings, consisting of lines, shapes, and hashtag-like figures, were made on specially-prepared surfaces that H. naledi created by sanding the rock before engraving it with a stone tool.

The characteristics of these engravings indicate deliberate human activity rather than natural formation. Notably, these engravings are found directly below the burials, suggesting that this area served as a cultural space for H. naledi, which significantly impacted the vast underground cave system over several kilometers.

The findings from these studies challenge previous notions about the behavioral capabilities of H. naledi and provide intriguing insights into their social and cultural practices. However, it's important to note that the research has yet to undergo peer review, highlighting the need for further scrutiny and evaluation by the scientific community.

READ ALSO: Ancient DNA Reveals Early Humans From China Migrated to the Americas and Japan During the Ice Age

A New Era of Paleoanthropology

The cave system in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has provided fossils of various ancient human ancestor species, contributing to our understanding of human evolution.

According to National Geographic, the research team's recent claims regarding Homo naledi's burial and engraving practices have sparked frustration among some paleoanthropologists due to the decision to publicize the findings before peer review. However, the team plans to publish the papers in the online journal eLife, allowing for transparency and an interactive review process.

Experts reviewing the papers recognize that paleoanthropology is entering a new era, acknowledging that behaviors once thought to be unique to modern humans are also present in other human species. This discovery raises expectations for further insights into Homo naledi's way of life and its relationship to our own species.

The implications of a non-modern human species with its own cultural space prompt a global conversation on how to proceed and address this remarkable find.

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