Did Small-Brained Homo naledi Bury Their Dead 250,000 Years Ago?
For decades, we’ve largely considered intentional burial – the careful placement of the dead – a hallmark of behaviour associated with larger-brained hominins like Neanderthals and our own species, Homo sapiens. It implies complex thought, perhaps grief, ritual, or a concept of an afterlife. But groundbreaking, albeit debated, research from the depths of a South African cave system is challenging that timeline and forcing us to rethink who our ancient relatives truly were.
A newly updated and peer-reviewed study, highlighted recently by Live Science, strengthens the controversial claim: Homo naledi, a hominin species with a brain roughly the size of an orange, may have been intentionally burying their dead as far back as 250,000 years ago.
Deep Discoveries in the Rising Star Cave
The story unfolds within the incredibly hard-to-reach chambers of the Rising Star cave system. Discovered in 2013, this site yielded an unprecedented number of fossils belonging to Homo naledi, a species exhibiting a curious mix of primitive (small brain, curved fingers) and more modern (human-like feet, wrists) features.
The research team, led by paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, argues that the context in which some Homo naledi remains were found points strongly towards deliberate burial. Here’s why this is so significant:
Pushing Back the Dates: The proposed burials date back roughly 250,000 years (potentially even earlier, between 241,000 and 335,000 years ago based on dating of the sediments). This is at least 100,000 years before the earliest widely accepted evidence of burials by Homo sapiens or Neanderthals.
Small Brain, Big Implications: Homo naledi’s brain was tiny – about 450 to 600 cubic centimeters, compared to roughly 1400 cubic centimeters for modern humans. Attributing complex behaviours like burial to such a small-brained hominin challenges the long-held assumption that cognitive sophistication is directly tied to brain size.
Deliberate Placement: The researchers contend that bodies, including those of children, were placed in specific excavated pits (shallow graves) within the cave chambers, often in curled or fetal positions. They argue this careful arrangement is unlikely to be the result of natural processes like being washed into the cave or dragged by predators.
Associated Findings (Even More Debated): Adding another layer to the intrigue, the team also reported finding geometric engravings on cave walls near the burial sites, suggesting potential symbolic behaviour accompanying the burials. This aspect remains highly debated within the scientific community.
A Landmark Finding, But Not Without Debate
It’s crucial to understand that these claims, particularly when first announced, sparked significant debate among paleoanthropologists. Skeptics questioned whether natural geological processes or non-burial activities could explain the deposition of the bodies. Could the pits be natural depressions? Could the bodies have simply slumped into those positions after death?
The significance of this “newly updated research” (referencing the peer-reviewed publication of papers initially released as pre-prints) is that it has now passed the formal scrutiny of other experts in the field. While publication doesn’t end the debate, it means the evidence and arguments presented were deemed substantial enough for the scientific record. The researchers have addressed critiques and refined their analyses, strengthening their case for intentional interment.
What Does This Mean for Human Evolution?
If the Homo naledi burial hypothesis holds true, it fundamentally alters our understanding of human evolution and the development of complex behaviours.
It suggests that caring for the dead and potentially symbolic thought aren’t exclusive to large-brained hominins. These traits might have evolved much earlier and potentially independently in different hominin lineages.
It blurs the lines of what we consider “human.” We often define ourselves by complex cognition, tool use, and ritual behaviour. Discovering these traits in a distant, small-brained relative forces us to reconsider those definitions.
It highlights the complexity of our family tree. Human evolution wasn’t a simple linear progression but a diverse branching bush, with different species potentially developing sophisticated behaviours in parallel.
The Journey Continues
The findings from the Rising Star cave system represent a potential paradigm shift in paleoanthropology. While scientific debate will undoubtedly continue as more evidence is sought and analysed, the possibility that Homo naledi engaged in mortuary practices a quarter of a million years ago is a truly landmark idea. It reminds us that the story of human origins is far from fully written, and the ancient past may still hold astonishing surprises.
What do you think about these findings? Does this change how you view our ancient relatives? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
