- A new hominin species, Homo naledi, was discovered in South Africa in a cave called Rising Star. It has a mix of traits, with hands and feet like Homo but more ape-like shoulders and a small brain.
- H. naledi appears to have deliberately buried its dead in the cave, a behavior previously only seen in modern humans. This suggests more advanced behavior than expected for a primitive species.
- The discovery adds a new branch to the human evolutionary tree and provides insights into human origins. However, more evidence is still needed to fully understand Homo naledi's traits and behavior.