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Researchers Say S. African Bones Are From Previously Unknown Human Relative

Ancient, but so far undated, remains found in a South African cave (more than 1500 pieces of bone and teeth) have been declared by the team which discovered them to represent a previously unknown kind of human relative, which they have dubbed Homo naledi. New submitter chapman writes: The human-like bones discovered in the Rising Star cave, 50km from Johannesburg, may belong to a new species of "long-legged," "pinheaded," and "gangly" human relative. Apparently the chamber in the cave where the discovery was made is so inaccessible (only 8 inches wide) that the team brought in a group of lightly-built female researchers in order to excavate the bones. Science Mag, too, describes the find as well as the controversy about the unusual publicity surrounding the exploration. The Guardian's article notes that the identification of the bones as belonging to a new species is disputed by some anthropologists, who say that based on the evidence presented so far, the bones may simply be examples of the previouly named Homo erectus.

2 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Prehistoric NBA player? by cayenne8 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I know the topic of ethnic make-up of NBA players is a sensitive one

    Who mentioned anything about ethnic makeup of the NBA player?

    Based on the quote from the article:

    new species of "long-legged," "pinheaded," and "gangly" human relative

    This would apply to any tall, gangly player in the NBA, no matter what their race is......

    Geez, why does everyone rush to start playing or arguing the damned RACE card on any description of a human.

    The joke I was making was that ALL of the NBA players, by necessity of the sport, requires them to all be very tall, and gangly built (long legs, arms, etc).....

    Good Lord people, get off the PC train long enough to realize every comment on a human or group of humans is not based on racism. Try to laugh at a silly joke once in awhile maybe?

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  2. Re:Self promotion detector tingling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Er, this has been reviewed and published: http://elifesciences.org/

    If you page down in the Naledi article, you will see a transcript of the peer review.

    And no, I don't know why they didn't publish in NAture or Science, perhaps they aren't Apple users.

    Oddly, I was in this cave complex "Sterkfontein" just three weeks ago. The cave where this discovered is not on the toru path but damned well guarded.
    I am off to the Origins Centre at Wits University tomorrow to peek at the bones myself.