Primitive Human-Like Species Lived More Recently Than Expected
The surprising finding suggests that small-brained Homo naledi may have lived at the same times as early humans in South Africa, complicating previous notions about human origins.
The bones of a human-like creature have puzzled scientists since they were found in a South African cave in 2013.
Homo naledi is primitive in some ways, with a small brain and other physical features reminiscent of our early ancestors. But it also walked upright, and had hands that may have been capable of making tools.
This perplexing combination, scientists have come to the conclusion that it lived between 335,000-236,000 years ago. That's only about a tenth of the age some experts previously predicted.
