The species has been named Homo naledi, Homo being the human genus and naledi meaning star.

Two months later Wits University and National Geographic organised a 21-day expedition that recovered 1550 fossils. The site is located 50 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa.

For example, one habit it shares with humans is placing the bodies of its dead in remote caves.

John Hawks, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, describes “Homo Naledi” with a tiny brain, of size of orange, of a very slim person. Research shows that on average H. naledi stood about 5 feet tall, weighed nearly 100 pounds and had a small brain. A burial site suggests that these early humans might have been capable of abstract thought – if they are indeed millions of years old, it would mean advanced cognitive capabilities developed in humans far earlier than previously believed. The researchers, led by Lee Berger, stated that the skeleton’s skull was also similar to that of humans.

It also sports long legs and feet.

The latest discovery of scientists may change the history of mankind as fossilized bones of 15 human ancestors have been dug up in an African underground graveyard. He said scientists would continue to look at the bones and make comparisons with fossils of populations from other parts of the world to find a possible connection.

The fossils were found roughly 90 meters inside the cave entrance, hidden within a very narrow chute. But, once upon a time, there were several different humanoid species in existence at the same time, and some of them even crossed paths and interbred, according to other discoveries made earlier this year. The findings ranged from infants to children, adults and elderly individuals.

“We haven’t got a date for the fossils yet. It is clearly a new species”. They also had opposable thumbs much like our own that would have allowed them dexterity somewhat like that of humans. We had to come to the inevitable conclusion that Homo naledi, a non-human species of hominid, was deliberately disposing of its dead in that dark chamber. One of the studies that focuses on the discovery of Homo naledi can be found in eLife.