In 2013, one of the most remarkable discoveries in human evolution was made deep within South Africa’s Rising Star cave system: the remains of Homo naledi, an ancient hominin with surprisingly advanced cultural practices. This discovery has forced scientists to rethink long-held assumptions about the origins of ritual, symbolism, and what it truly means to be human.
Who Was Homo Naledi?
Homo naledi is a distant relative of modern humans, existing between 241,000 and 335,000 years ago, long before Homo sapiens emerged. With a brain about the size of an orange—roughly a third of the size of modern human brains—Homo naledi would not have been assumed capable of sophisticated behavior or thought. Traditionally, scientists have associated complex rituals, burial practices, and symbolic thinking with species like Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. However, Homo naledi defies these assumptions.
The Astonishing Discovery of Homo Naledi’s Burial Practices
The initial discovery of Homo naledi remains was just the beginning. As scientists explored the Rising Star cave, they found evidence suggesting deliberate burial practices. The bodies had been carefully arranged in a fetal position, an act requiring significant care and intention. Such arrangements are often symbolic, reflecting thoughts about life, death, and possibly an afterlife.
The implications are profound: this burial practice is at least 100,000 years older than any known burial by Homo sapiens, suggesting that the idea of honoring the dead did not originate solely with us.
What Burial Practices Say About Homo Naledi’s Cognitive Abilities
Burial rituals are more than mere actions; they signify a deep understanding of life and death and the ability to think symbolically. The intentional positioning of bodies reflects a conscious effort to express respect or other social emotions. This is especially surprising given Homo naledi’s small brain size, challenging the notion that cognitive complexity is directly linked to brain volume.
Scientists once believed that only large-brained hominins could develop rituals, arts, and symbolism. Yet here was a species with a brain a third of our own size, already displaying behaviors we consider markers of humanity.
Ancient Carvings—The Oldest Form of Rock Art?
In addition to burial practices, scientists discovered carvings on the walls of the Rising Star cave that may date back 335,000 years. These symbols could represent some of the earliest forms of communication, possibly used for recording information or transmitting ideas within the group. The carvings bear resemblance to early rock art made by both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, a link that could place Homo naledi as one of the first hominins to develop symbolic thought.
Symbolism Beyond Language—A Glimpse into Homo Naledi’s Mind
The significance of these engravings cannot be overstated. Rock carvings may seem simple, but their creation requires abstract thinking—the capacity to imagine, communicate, and share ideas beyond the immediate. For Homo naledi, these carvings could have served purposes beyond decoration, possibly as a means to mark territory, convey stories, or even perform rituals. This suggests that Homo naledi may have had a rudimentary symbolic system, one that preceded spoken or written language as we know it.
Redefining Cognitive Evolution—A Challenge to the Big-Brain Hypothesis
For decades, scientists operated under the assumption that cognitive complexity correlated directly with brain size. Big brains meant greater capacity for language, culture, and innovation. Yet, Homo naledi demonstrates that even small-brained hominins may have engaged in sophisticated cultural practices, reshaping our understanding of how intelligence and ritual developed.
This challenges the “big-brain hypothesis,” which has long implied that only large-brained hominins like Homo sapiens and Neanderthals were capable of ritual and symbolic thought. If Homo naledi was indeed capable of such behavior, it suggests that cultural practices evolved independently of brain size and could be a shared feature across hominin species.
The Rising Star Cave System—A Time Capsule of Early Human Life
The Rising Star cave system has proven to be a treasure trove for paleoanthropologists, offering rare insights into early hominin life. Located near Johannesburg, South Africa, the cave is extremely challenging to access, with narrow passageways requiring scientists to navigate carefully through darkness and tight spaces. This makes the intentional burials even more fascinating—if Homo naledi was indeed burying its dead in these hard-to-reach locations, it would have required significant effort and planning.
These challenges underscore the dedication and depth of Homo naledi’s burial practices, suggesting that these rituals were not haphazard or casual but deeply meaningful to this species.
What Does This Mean for Our Understanding of Human Evolution?
The discovery of Homo naledi and its advanced behaviors raises profound questions about the origins of human-like behaviors in ancient species. If ritualistic burials and symbolic carvings were not unique to Homo sapiens, it suggests that these practices emerged far earlier in the hominin lineage than previously believed.
A New Chapter in the Story of Human Identity
For modern humans, behaviors like ritual, art, and symbolism are essential aspects of identity and cultural expression. The discovery that Homo naledi, with its modest brain size, may have shared these qualities brings us closer to understanding the true nature of humanity. It suggests that such behaviors may not solely belong to Homo sapiens but rather be part of a broader spectrum of human-like qualities shared across our evolutionary family.
Final Thoughts—Rewriting the Human Story
The story of Homo naledi is still unfolding, but its impact on our understanding of human evolution is undeniable. This species has shown us that cultural sophistication may not be exclusive to modern humans and that the roots of ritual, symbolism, and social care might extend far deeper into our evolutionary past than once thought. As scientists continue to study these remarkable finds, Homo naledi will likely inspire new questions and discoveries about what it means to be human.
