What's happened
A new study on Homo naledi fossils from Rising Star Cave suggests a female-only burial pattern and complex social behavior. Researchers indicate all analyzed teeth show AMELX without AMELY, pointing to female-dominated remains. The finding prompts questions about gender roles and burial customs among early hominins.
What's behind the headline?
Inquiry into the finding
- The study shows AMELX is present while AMELY is absent across 23 teeth from at least 20 individuals, suggesting a female-dominated dataset.
- This supports a narrative of gendered burial practices in Homo naledi and may redefine assumptions about social structure in early hominins.
Questions for readers
- What does female-only burial imply for social roles in Homo naledi communities?
- How might this alter our view of Neanderthal and Homo sapiens social evolution?
- What are the limits of protein-based gender inference in ancient remains?
Forecast
- Further proteomic analyses could reveal more nuanced patterns of gender, age, and social status within Rising Star Cave remains.
How we got here
Researchers have long studied Rising Star Cave and the Homo naledi remains. A 2013 excavation recovered 20+ individuals, sparking debate over whether remains were placed deliberately or due to accident. The latest protein analysis on dental enamel indicates all teeth sampled come from female individuals, raising new interpretations of social structure.
Our analysis
Ars Technica reports a female-only skeleton set in Rising Star Cave following AMELX/AMELY protein analysis; Independent provides context on the Marshill burial and other ancient finds; Independent also covers broader implications for Homo naledi social structure. These accounts together highlight a potential shift in understanding early human-like species' burial practices.
Go deeper
- What does this mean for how we interpret other Homo naledi sites?
- Will future DNA or proteomic work confirm female-only burials across other sites?
More on these topics
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Rising Star Cave - The Rising Star cave system (also known as Westminster or Empire cave) is located in the Malmani dolomites, in Bloubank River valley.
The Rising Star cave system is located in the Malmani dolomites, in Bloubank River valley, about 800 meters southwest of Swartkrans, part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in South Africa.
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South Africa - Country in Southern Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is the southernmost country in Africa. With over 59 million people, it is the world's 24th-most populous nation and covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres.
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Homo naledi - Primate
Homo naledi is a species of archaic human discovered in the Rising Star Cave, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa dating to the Middle Pleistocene 335,000–236,000 years ago.