Recent research suggests that the tiny-brained Homo naledi was a gravedigger and artist, but some researchers aren’t so sure.
Though these carvings have yet to be dated, the researchers say that they may have been made between 335,000 and 241,000 years ago, the same span of time in whichThe authors of the three pre-prints say that their findings could challenge fundamental theories about the foundations of human behavior, suggesting that the development of a bigger brain was not necessary for the development of complex thought and action.
"What we've uncovered forces us to rethink a whole set of assumptions about hominins and human evolution," said Agustin Fuentes, an anthropologist at Princeton University and another author behind the pre-prints, according to a press release. "Much of what we assumed was distinctively human, and distinctively caused by having a large brain, may not be either of those things.
According to these skeptics, the Rising Star bodies may have accumulated in natural depressions in the cave floor due to natural forces, having been washed in by water, for instance. Alternatively, they may have been tossed into the depressions byindividuals, as has been previously proposed, only to be subsequently buried by the natural shifting and settling of sediment inside the cave.
Weakening the findings further, some researchers add that the scratches along the walls of the cave are not necessarily the work of
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Swarm of Near-Earth Comets Linked to Recent Ice Giant Breakup🔄FROM THE ARCHIVE: The findings are welcomed by supporters of cometary catastrophe theories from Earth’s history.
Read more »
West Coast Spotlight: Surprising recent recruiting developments - Rivals.com
Read more »
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York recovering from breast cancer operation after recent diagnosisFriends described her procedure as “successful,” thanks in part to her early diagnosis.
Read more »
Expert says Utah wetlands are in danger following recent Supreme Court decisionIn late May, the court ruled that wetlands can only be regulated under the Clean Water Act if they have a 'continuous surface connection' to larger, regulated bodies of water.
Read more »
Biden and Zelenskyy Discuss “Recent Events in Russia”President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday after a tumultuous weekend in Russia.
Read more »
Biden, Zelenskyy hold phone call about 'recent events in Russia,' White House saysPresident Biden held a phone call Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the United States' continued support for Ukraine, the White House said in a statement.
Read more »