The ancient burial site dates back over 100,000 years, far earlier than the period when Homo sapiens are believed to have begun burying their dead.
According to Science Alert, an excavation in South Africa has revealed a shocking ancient burial site. The remains found within resemble a species closely related to Homo sapiens, but they lived in trees and had significantly smaller brains.
Of course, the individuals buried as well as those who created the burial site were not Homo sapiens, the species known as modern humans.
The Cradle of Humankind cave in South Africa, where the ancient burial site created by another species was discovered – (Photo: Maropeng)
The individuals found in the ancient burial site, as well as those who buried them, have been identified as Homo naledi, a species within the Homo genus (the human genus) that still exhibits apelike features.
The remains are currently located approximately 30 meters underground within the Cradle of Humankind cave system near Johannesburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
About 200,000 years ago, when this ancient burial site was created, it is possible that the remains were buried much shallower before being covered by successive layers of sediment.
Bones found deep underground in the Cradle of Humankind cave – (Photo: Lee Berger and colleagues).
“This is the oldest recorded burial behavior in human history, predating evidence of burial practices by Homo sapiens by at least 100,000 years,” stated the research team led by Dr. Lee Berger from the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa) and the National Geographic Society.
The oldest burials created by Homo sapiens previously discovered were found in the Middle East and Africa, dating back around 100,000 years.
The species responsible for this burial site is itself a shocking detail.
Homo naledi is considered a species at the intersection between ape and modern humans. They have brains the size of an orange and stand about 1.5 meters tall, with arms and legs not quite suited for using tools or engaging in complex behaviors like digging a grave.
Meanwhile, burial practices are thought to be a “higher” behavior that can only emerge when humans evolve to a certain level.
According to the authors, this new discovery suggests that the evolution of humanity may not follow a linear path.
Scientists continue to explore the cave where the ancient burial site is located, which is part of a vast cave system known as Rising Star in South Africa, famous for its findings related to other human species.
