100,000 years earlier than previously thought: scientists have found evidence of ancient burials. PHOTO
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Scientists have found evidence in South Africa that our ancient ancestors Homo naledi buried the dead long before the first evidence of human burials. There is also an assumption that they carved symbols on the walls of the caves. Such data was collected as a result of three studies, reports CNN. “These discoveries may change the understanding of human evolution, because so far this behavior has only been associated with Homo sapiens and Neanderthals with larger brains,” the scientists say. Fossils of Homo naledi. Photo: Robert Clark/National Geographic The research involved researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Wisconsin (USA), as well as National Geographic researcher, bioculture specialist Agustin Fuentes. The researchers discovered the remains of adults and children of Homo naledi, covered with earth, lying in the embryonic position in cave depressions. These burials are about 100,000 years older than any others known to mankind. Possible rock fragments in the hand of a teenager. Photo: Lee Berger Scientists also found a number of symbols engraved on the walls of the cave. Their age is approximately from 241 thousand to 335 thousand years. They look like hatched crosses and other geometric shapes. “The team of scientists mapped more than 4 km of caves, which have a vertical depth and extend 200 m in length,” said the lead geologist of the study, Dr. Tebogo Makhubela. National Geographic explorer and expedition leader inside the cave. Photo: Lee Berger Researchers found many fossils of Homo naledi in the caves, including many infants and elderly people. The team of scientists also found artifacts in the burials. One of the graves contained a tool-shaped stone buried next to the hand of an adult Homo naledi. In the passage above the burial, there was a wall covered with rock engravings and carved geometric figures Fragments of a rock probably near the teenager’s hand. Photo: Lee Berger Engravings on caves where ancient burials were found. Photo: Lee Berger The soot, charcoal and burnt bones found also indicate that this species was actively lighting fires. As you know, the brain of an extinct species is equal in size to a third of the brain of a modern person. The species was characterized by upright walking, but its representatives had smaller heads, shorter height, less weight, but more strength. They could pick up various objects and use them. It will be recalled that scientists have found evidence that the ancestors of Europeans could light a fire to cook food as early as 250,000 years ago – 50,000 years earlier than previously thought. Read also: Died from the eruption of Vesuvius: the skeletons of two 50-year-old men were found in Pompeii
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