Biological Sciences Division
Published May 9, 2017 | Version v1
Journal article Open

New fossil remains of Homo naledi from the Lesedi Chamber, South Africa

Creators

  • 1. University of the Witwatersrand
  • 2. James Cook University
  • 3. University of Chicago
  • 4. New York University
  • 5. Chaffey College

Description

The Rising Star cave system has produced abundant fossil hominin remains within the Dinaledi Chamber, representing a minimum of 15 individuals attributed to Homo naledi. Further exploration led to the discovery of hominin material, now comprising 131 hominin specimens, within a second chamber, the Lesedi Chamber. The Lesedi Chamber is far separated from the Dinaledi Chamber within the Rising Star cave system, and represents a second depositional context for hominin remains. In each of three collection areas within the Lesedi Chamber, diagnostic skeletal material allows a clear attribution to H. naledi. Both adult and immature material is present. The hominin remains represent at least three individuals based upon duplication of elements, but more individuals are likely present based upon the spatial context. The most significant specimen is the near-complete cranium of a large individual, designated LES1, with an endocranial volume of approximately 610 ml and associated postcranial remains. The Lesedi Chamber skeletal sample extends our knowledge of the morphology and variation of H. naledi, and evidence of H. naledi from both recovery localities shows a consistent pattern of differentiation from other hominin species.

Notes

Due to the large number of authors, only the first 20 and the University of Chicago authors are included on the above author list. Please download the article for the complete list of authors.

Files

elife-24232-v1.pdf

Files (21.9 MB)

Name Size Download all
Article
md5:8439b2e00a4193e2dc8cce2fedbcc818
21.8 MB Preview Download
md5:05ea1b5967438ea5c330030cc908394c
161.0 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.7554/eLife.24232
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:10063

Funding

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Vilas Trust
Texas A and M College of Liberal Arts
Seed Grant Program
National Geographic Society
National Research Foundation
Gauteng Provincial Government
Palaeontological Scientific Trust
Lyda Hill Foundation
Fulbright Scholar Program

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Biological Sciences Division
Department(s)
Organismal Biology and Anatomy