Homo naledi, the new human-like species discovered in South Africa

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Ever since an amateur caver and geologist uncovered a jawbone fossil in 2013, National Geographic knew that it can lead them to something major and improtant. Now, a trove of fossils has been unearthed in the caves of Johannesburg, South Africa and this may change the way experts see how the human evolution began.

The Huffington Post reports that a group of international scientists have discovered the remains of a former "unknown species" that looks like an apparent human relative, based on the structure and built of the bones. This discovery was made possible through the collaboration of National Geographic Society, the South African Department of Science and Technology, and the University of Witwatersrand. These researchers believe it could help experts understand further the human family tree.

The new human species was named "Homo naledi" or "star" in English, because the fossils were discovered in the cave known as the "Rising Star", Mashable adds.

The researchers had a hard time getting the fossils because they were in a 90-meter chamber below the cave entrance and can only be accessible via a narrow chute. The team had to ask very slender individuals to retrieve the fossils.

Jeremy DeSilva, co-author of the paper and associate anthropology professor from Dartmouth College, shares that there were more than 1500 fossils recovered and based on what they have analyzed, this species seemed to have buried their dead in a remote area of the cave where the fossils have been found, a practice only humans do.

Researcher John Hawks from the University of Wisconsin-Madison shares his excitement because it is the first time in hominin record that they encounter such a situation or practice.

Lee Berger, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and professor at University of Witwatersrand, explains that they have debated on every possible scenarios to explain what they have discovered, like mass death, accidental death or water transport from a nearby location. However, nothing fits that is why they were left to conclude that it is an intentional body disposal which is similar to how modern humans behave.

CNN writes that the first evidence of human burial dates 100,000 years back and since Professor Berger and his team has yet to pin point the exact existence date of "Homo naledi", they are still unsure of how true their theory is. However, they are all in agreement that their discovery can influence how human history unfolded and will probably question everyone's understanding of human evolution and identity.