The Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site about 50km out of Jozi, is grabbing headlines around the world after a massive announcement made just moments ago.

After quite a build-up Lee Berger, the world-famous paleoanthropologist and professor at Wits, announced the discovery of Homo naledi, a new species of human relative. Here’s what we know about naledi, which means star in Sesotho, according to TimesLive:

[Scientists] believe [naledi] disposed of its dead deep in a cave and possibly even used fire…

This latest find, believe scientists, is going to shake up that tree, as this species could have displayed behaviour that so far has only been seen in humans and Neanderthals…

What we have is a tall hominid, between 1,45 and 1,5 metres tall, was very skinny, had powerful joint muscles and had a brain about the size of my fist,” explained Berger in a pre-announcement briefing…

Homo naledi is unique in that it has a mix of primate and human-like features. The shoulders are similar to apes while the feet are distinctly human-like.

“Surprisingly, Homo naledi has extremely curved fingers, more curved than almost any other species of early hominin, which clearly demonstrates climbing capabilities…

[Berger] believes the feet with the long legs might have also made Homo naledi suitable for long-distance walking.

The press conference is currently in full swing, with News24 quoting Berger as saying that they have found more than 15 people of various ages inside the Dinaledi Chamber, or “Chamber of Stars”. Much of their speculation stems from how these remains came to be found inside the chamber:

The researchers have proposed that Homo naledi moved into the cave on purpose to dispose of their dead.

Berger said they had eliminated the possibility that the bones had arrived in the cave because of carnivore activity. He also said that the bones had not been moved by water or died in a singular event.

To get to the chamber, Homo naledi, explained Berger, would have had to have dragged their dead through pitch black tunnels. It is possible, he said, that they might have used fire to light their way.

Here are a few pics to give you a better sense of the discovery, with the full gallery available HERE.

Science never ceases to amaze but when some of the world’s leading authorities on the subject are frothing at the mouth with excitement you know we’re on to something huge.

[source:timeslive&news24]