Earliest known burial site was not made by humans, study suggests

Paleontologists in South Africa have unearthed a shocking discovery that reveals the world’s earliest known burial site was not constructed by humans.

The researchers discovered the remains of small-brained distant ancestors of humans in the burial site, implying that they were the creators. These mammals were formerly thought to be incapable of complicated behavior.

The researchers, led by renowned paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, reported in June that they had uncovered seven Homo naledi fossils. These Stone Age hominids, who were adept at tree climbing, were discovered buried roughly 30 meters (100 feet) underground in a cave system inside the Cradle of Humanity, a UNESCO world heritage site near Johannesburg.

“These are the most ancient interments yet recorded in the hominin record, earlier than evidence of Homo sapiens interments by at least 100,000 years,” said the scientists in the numerous preprint papers that were published in Life.

Did larger brains aid humans in performing complicated tasks?

The findings have called into question current views about human evolution, which previously held that larger brains aided in complicated, “meaning-making” tasks like burying the deceased.

Archaeologists previously discovered Homo sapiens remains in tombs in the Middle East and Africa, which were thought to be 100,000 years old.

Berger discovered bones in South Africa that date back at least 200,000 years. The fossils are also thought to be those of Homo naledi, a primitive species with brains the size of oranges.

Speaking about the latest discovery in the paper, the researchers said, “These discoveries show that mortuary practices were not limited to H. sapiens or other hominins with large brain sizes.”

Geometrical designs in Homo Naledi’s Cave

They went on to say that the burial site isn’t the only evidence that Homo naledi was capable of complex cognitive and emotional behavior.

The geometrical designs, including a “rough hashtag figure,” were spotted on the surfaces of a neighboring cave pillar that appeared purposefully sanded.

“That would mean not only are humans not unique in the development of symbolic practices, but they may not have even invented such behaviors,” Berger said in an interview with AFP.

Berger attracted criticism in 2015 as his findings claimed that Homo naledi was capable of more than the size of its head.

“That was too much for scientists to take at that time. We think it’s all tied up with this big brain. We’re about to tell the world that’s not true,” he added.