In a stunning archaeological breakthrough that forces us to reconsider human evolution, scientists have definitively confirmed that Homo naledi—our distant relatives with brains merely one-third our size—conducted deliberate burials approximately 250,000 years ago. This remarkable finding, detailed in an extensive study published in eLife on March 28, 2025, pushes back the earliest known evidence of burial practices by an astonishing 100,000 years.
The Extraordinary Rising Star Discoveries
A Decade of Remarkable Findings
Since their initial discovery in 2013, archaeologists have recovered over 1,500 bones belonging to multiple Homo naledi individuals throughout the sprawling Rising Star cave system in South Africa. These exceptionally preserved remains have revealed fascinating characteristics of these ancient hominins:
- They stood approximately 5 feet tall
- Weighed around 100 pounds
- Possessed remarkably dexterous hands
- Had small yet surprisingly complex brains
- Demonstrated bipedal locomotion
From Scientific Skepticism to Acceptance
The path to scientific validation has been challenging. The research team, led by renowned paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, first proposed the burial hypothesis in 2017. By 2023, they had published studies documenting shallow, oval-shaped depressions containing skeletal remains consistent with intentional burials—including what appears to be a grave offering of a single stone artifact found adjacent to hand and wrist bones.
Initially met with widespread skepticism, the team persisted in gathering additional evidence. Their comprehensive 2025 publication provides an exhaustive reconstruction of how these ancient bodies came to rest in the cave system, with meticulous documentation of the timeline from death through decomposition.
Beyond Burials: Evidence of Symbolic Expression
Perhaps more extraordinary than the burials themselves are the abstract engravings discovered on the cave walls directly above the burial sites. These intricate patterns—featuring lines, geometric shapes, and hashtag-like figures—appear on carefully prepared surfaces that were deliberately sanded before engraving with stone tools.
“They transformed these underground spaces across kilometers of cave systems,” observed Berger, suggesting these caves functioned as significant cultural spaces for Homo naledi communities.
Redefining Human Cognitive Evolution
The collective deposition of multiple bodies alongside the presence of sophisticated engravings suggests that Homo naledi possessed beliefs surrounding death and possibly experienced communal grief—concepts previously assumed to require the larger brains characteristic of modern humans.
Dr. Agustín Fuentes, a Princeton University anthropologist involved in the research, proposes these findings indicate memorial practices that bear striking resemblance to contemporary human emotional responses to death.
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Ongoing Scientific Conversation
While the compelling new evidence has persuaded many former skeptics, some researchers maintain a cautious stance. Questions persist regarding how Homo naledi accessed the deep cave systems and whether independent research teams can reproduce these findings.
One previously skeptical reviewer now acknowledges that the authors provide “sufficient evidence for the presence of ‘repeated and patterned’ deliberate burials” by Homo naledi, though others continue to advocate for additional independent analysis.
A Transformative Moment in Evolutionary Understanding
This landmark discovery fundamentally alters our understanding of human evolution and cognitive development. It compellingly suggests that complex behaviors like burial rituals and symbolic thinking may not require the large brains that characterize modern humans.
As exploration of the Rising Star cave system continues and analysis of Homo naledi remains advances, we may uncover even more evidence that challenges our fundamental assumptions about what defines humanity—and when our ancestors began engaging in behaviors we’ve long considered uniquely human.
