Rising Star Cave — Homo Naledi Chamber
Dinaledi Chamber · Lesedi
Middle Pleistocene (335–236 ka Homo naledi deposition)·Homo naledi (small brain 460 cc)·🇿🇦 Gauteng / Cradle of Humankind, South Africa
About
About Rising Star Cave — Homo Naledi Chamber
Rising Star Cave system (20–30 m dolomite horizon, 3 km passages) yielded 1,550+ Homo naledi fossils (15 individuals) in Dinaledi Chamber (2013) and Lesedi Chamber (2015) by Berger. 2017 dating shows 335–236 ka — primitive small-brained hominin contemporary with early Homo sapiens practicing deliberate disposal. Supine Cave connection required 12 cm squeeze (supine). Most complete new hominin species in 50 years. UNESCO Cradle 915 extension.
Why it mattersMost abundant new hominin collection; forces rewrite of hominin mortuary behaviour evolution (small brain + deliberation).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01How did naledi navigate 12 cm chute with bodies
- 02Why deliberately dispose in dark zone 80 m deep
Theories
- 01Deliberate disposal as social bonding (Berger) vs natural death trap (critics)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Not built — chert-capped dolomite system
- Period
- Middle Pleistocene (335–236 ka Homo naledi deposition)
- Culture
- Homo naledi (small brain 460 cc)
- Builders
- Natural cave; naledi deliberate body disposal
- Purpose
- Ritual mortuary disposal chamber (or cache) deep inside cave
- Abandoned
- c.236 ka final disposal
- Rediscovered
- 2013 Tucker & Hunter caving, 2015 Berger team
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
335 ka
First naledi disposal in Dinaledi
2013
Discovery by cavers
2017
335–236 ka dating (eLife)
On the ground
Structures & features
25.9840° S · 27.7710° E · 1490 m · 3 mapped features
Dinaledi Chamber — Main Fossil Cache
burial15 individuals Homo naledi in 80×40 cm pit fill with 1,550 fragments, anatomical articulation
25.9835° S · 27.7715° ELesedi Chamber — Neo Specimen
burialSecond chamber 100 m distant with 133 fragments including Neo skull (male) 236 ka
25.9845° S · 27.7705° EThe Chute — 12 cm Squeeze Entry
access18 m vertical chute 12 cm narrow fissure, only route to Dinaledi — deliberate access filter
25.9840° S · 27.7710° E