Fascinating news on the possible discovery of a new species in the prehistoric human family tree. The sheer number of fossil specimens found in the South African cave that gives the new species its name — Homo naledi — is remarkable. Here’s how the New York Times put it:
In two papers published this week in the open-access journal eLife,the researchers said that the more than 1,550 fossil elements documenting the discovery constituted the largest sample for any hominin species in a single African site, and one of the largest anywhere in the world. Further, the scientists said, that sample is probably a small fraction of the fossils yet to be recovered from the chamber. So far the team has recovered parts of at least 15 individuals.
“With almost every bone in the body represented multiple times, Homo naledi is already practically the best-known fossil member of our lineage,” Dr. Berger said.
