Task 2.1

Homo Naledi, is bones discovered in 2013 by Professor Lee Berger from Wits University, and these bones are believed to be the remains of a new species of ancient human relative.

These bones were found in the Dinaledi chamber, known to be the chamber the chamber of stars in South Africa.  The bones of these what is believed to be a new species of ancient human relative, amounted up to more than 1500 pieces of bones.  Which is said to be belonging to approximately 15 individuals, which comes forth to be remains of infants, toddlers, twins, teenagers and one of an elderly specie.

The leaders of the National Geographic-funded project, named the creature Homo Naledi, of which naledi means “star” in one of South Africa’s official languages Sesotho.  The name given to the new species, probably is because of how remarkable the existence of these bones are to the founder and because it was found in the chamber of stars.  The significance of Homo Naledi, is that it has a small brain, barely the size of a lemon, tiny teeth that are in shape and tall, of which the females are just a little shorter than the male.  The thorax of the creature is more like an ape’s, but it’s hand are very modern-like, of which the shape of the hands are fitted to make basic tools.  The creature seems to be a mixture of what seems to be a human as well as an ape, as its feet and ankles are structured to walk upright, but the hands are more curved, sharing the same hand features of a tree ape.

The bones are not yet dated, but are believed to be modern. It would’ve been easier to set an approximate date on the bones, if other animals were also found in the chamber. (thegaurdian.com, 2013)