Humanity's mystery new cousin is surprisingly young: 335,000-year-old fossils of Homo naledi transform our understanding of human evolution



Researchers from James Cook University in Queensland have analysed fossils of the hominid Homo naledi, found deep in the Rising Star cave system in South Africa in 2013.

Researchers believe the homo naledi could have been hoarding the dead
They say that this is a sign of intelligence and could be the 'deepest roots of human cultural practices'

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOMO NALEDI

- Homo naledi lived in Africa between 236,000 and 335,000 years ago

- The species' feet share many features with a modern human foot, indicating it is well-adapted for standing and walking on two feet

- Wrist bones and thumb show anatomical features that are shared with Neanderthals and humans and suggest powerful grasping and the ability to use stone tools

- Finger bones are more curved than most early fossil human species, suggesting that H. naledi still used their hands for climbing in the trees

- The species had delicate bones of the inner eye region and nose

- The average height of the Homo naledi was around 5 feet (1.5 metres)

- They had a brain the size of an orange - this is around one third the size of a human brain

- Homo naledi may have stored the dead, suggesting they were an intelligent species

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...mo-naledi.html