Meet Neo, the most complete Homo naledi

Abstract

Almost four years ago, researchers recovered 1,500 ancient hominin bones and teeth from a chamber in South Africa's Rising Star cave system, recognized as a new species of early human--Homo naledi. The team has now recovered 130 additional hominin bones and teeth from the cave. They say the discoveries--and the first official confirmation of the specimens age--could transform people's understanding of how and where humans evolved. Although the new H. naledi remains belong to at least three individuals overall, many of the bones and teeth belong to a single, remarkably complete adult skeleton, dubbed Neo.