The revelations could change the understanding of human evolution.
Researchers have uncovered evidence that members of a mysterious archaic human species buried their dead and carved symbols on cave walls long before the earliest evidence of burials by modern humans.
People are also reading… Fossils belonging to Homo naledi were first discovered in the Rising Star cave system in South Africa during excavations in 2013. The cave system is part of South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site encompassing an area where scientists have found fossils of multiple ancient human ancestor species — remains that are helping to unlock the story of human evolution.
The symbols include deeply carved hashtag-like cross-hatchings and other geometric shapes. Similar symbols found in other caves were carved by early Homo sapiens 80,000 years ago and Neanderthals 60,000 years ago and were thought to have been used as a way to record and share information. Homo naledi shared some similarities with humans, like walking upright and manipulating objects by hand, but members of the species had smaller heads, a shorter stature, and were thinner and more powerfully built, Berger said.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts But the idea of a small-brained hominin doing so was considered to be a very controversial hypothesis. The deeply carved geometric shapes appear on dolomite rock walls that reach 4.5 to 4.7 on Mohs Hardness Scale, which helps researchers assess the scratch resistance of minerals. Dolomite is halfway to a diamond in terms of hardness, which means it would have taken an extreme amount of time and effort to carve into the walls, Berger said.
The meaning of the symbols is unclear, and researchers can’t say whether they were used as a type of language or communication within the species.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Weekly Forex Forecast \u2013 NASDAQ 100 Index, USD/JPY, GBP/USDThe difference between success and failure in Forex / CFD trading is highly likely to depend mostly upon which assets you choose to trade each week.
Read more »
The 100 highest-paying jobs in AmericaAs expected, medical professionals post a strong showing, as well as managers. There are surprises, too.
Read more »
Russian police arrest more than 100 Navalny supporters, group saysRussian police on Sunday arrested more than 100 people who had taken to the streets to mark the 47th birthday of Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, a protest monitoring group said.
Read more »
Andy's Bar | The 100 Best Bars in DFW 2022 | Dallas ObserverLocated across the street from Denton’s famed Recycled Books is Andy’s Bar. Three bars in one, Andy’s boasts an upstairs cocktail bar called the Paschall Bar with a library vibe, a music venue and a basement bar with more of...
Read more »
Trick Pony | The 100 Best Bars in DFW 2022 | Dallas ObserverTrick Pony is a side-hustle bar of Marlow MXM but has a completely different energy. While it can get rowdy on busy weekends, it often displays characteristics of a more mild-mannered middle child. While the interior design has a harsh...
Read more »