Homo naledi, a species from Rising Star Cave, South Africa, dates to 335,000–236,000 years ago and is known from around 1,550 specimens. Recent findings suggest female-only burial practices, challenging prior explanations and highlighting complex social behavior.
Protein analysis of Homo naledi teeth from Rising Star Cave shows AMELX presence without AMELY, indicating all known remains are female. The finding suggests deliberate, female-led burial practices within Rising Star and raises questions about social structure among this extinct species.