Mo Naledi Research Paper

The search for the origins of humankind and the earliest human ancestor has intrigued anthropologists for generations. New evidence, while often scarce, is a vital aspect to the understanding and development of the field of paleoanthropology. Current research aids in the modification of the human ancestral tree and the analysis of various sites. One of the newest sites dealing with human evolution is the Rising Star cave system in South Africa, where a new species of human ancestors, Homo naledi, was discovered. Because of its modernity, quick excavation, and controversial conclusions, the site of the Rising Star cave system is still being actively researched. The remains have yet to be dated and this information would have an important impact …show more content…
The geographic evidence gathered shows that the structure of the cave has not changed very much over time. Therefore, H. naledi must have entered the cave through a difficult passageway. The remains lacked green fractures, so the individuals did not enter the Dinaledi Chamber through a catastrophic incident. The bones showed very little weathering, which suggests that the fossils had little contact with the elements outside of the cave (Dirks et. al). There are no artifacts that suggest occupation, so H. naledi did not live in the Rising Star cave system. The fossils were not deposited by water because their arrangement does not follow a flood pattern. The remains could have been deposited as the result of a catastrophic event, either from one point in time or from the accumulation of individuals that entered the cave and died. Since there was “no significant result when comparing the currently available [age] distribution to either catastrophic or attritional mortality profiles,” this scenario is plausible (Dirks et. al). However, according to Dirks and Berger, the most likely explanation for the deposition of remains is deliberate burial. H. naledi could have deposited the remains of their dead or dying in the chamber, which would explain the “presence of delicate, articulated remains in the excavation pit” far from the cave’s entrance (Dirks et. al). Because there were no green fractures, the bodies did not suffer any trauma around time of death, which explains why the deliberate disposal hypothesis is more supported than the mass casualty