A small-brained human relative lived alongside our ancestors until just 236,000 years ago.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Discovered in 2013, Homo naledi shattered the idea that human evolution was a linear march toward larger brains. This enigmatic species possessed a primitive, ape-like anatomy yet thrived in Africa as recently as the late Pleistocene, coexisting with larger-brained humans like Homo sapiens in a complex, multi-species landscape.

Announced in 2015, Homo naledi was identified from over 1,500 fossil specimens recovered from the Rising Star cave system in South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind. The discovery, led by palaeoanthropologist Lee Berger, revealed a mosaic of traits that defied simple classification. While the species possessed human-like feet and hands, its small brain—measuring between 460 and 610 cubic centimetres—and curved fingers were more reminiscent of ancient australopithecines or Homo habilis. This combination of archaic and modern features suggests a species that walked with an efficient, human-like stride yet remained adept at climbing.

The most startling revelation was the species' age. Initially suspected to be millions of years old due to its primitive morphology, dating published in 2017 placed the remains between 236,000 and 335,000 years ago. This timeline confirms that Homo naledi was a contemporary of early Homo sapiens. Their persistence challenges the long-held assumption that larger brains provided an automatic evolutionary advantage, proving instead that multiple human lineages occupied the African continent simultaneously.

Mystery still shrouds how these remains reached the remote, dark chambers of the Rising Star system, located over 80 metres from any known entrance. Some researchers have proposed that the species engaged in ritualistic behaviour, such as deliberate body disposal or even rock engravings, though these claims remain highly contested within the scientific community. With no definitive evidence of tools or material culture yet associated with the fossils, Homo naledi remains one of the most provocative enigmas in the study of human origins.

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