Scientists unveil a new species of early human, Homo naledi, found in African cave

Early Thursday, scientists announced the discovery of a new species of early human that lived sometime near the dawn of modern human beings. Dubbed Homo naledi, the new species had humanlike feet and hands, but a brain the size of an orange. "We've never seen a non-human that shares so many primitive and yet sometimes advanced" features, says Lee Berger of South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand, who led the expedition and co-authored the study.

The new species was named for the Rising Star caves in South Africa where it was discovered — naledi means "star" in the Sotho language. The fossils uncovered in the cave — mostly by scientists thin enough to fit through the small opening — were from between 12 and 18 different people, from all age ranges. They were probably placed there when they died. "Homo naldei was doing something that, until this moment, we thought was unique to modern humans," Berger says: "Deliberate disposal of the dead." There is already debate about where H. naledi fits in the hominid family tree, and how old the fossils are. You can learn more in the National Geographic video below. Peter Weber

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