Continuing excavations in South Africa paleontologistsmanaged to excavate the oldest grave ever discovered. The most interesting feature of this grave is that it is the grave of a small-brained species that doesn’t look much like the humans we know today. It was previously thought that this species could not exhibit complex behaviors such as burial.

From famous paleontologists Lee Berger In the research conducted under the leadership of Homo naledi It was stated that a grave belonging to the mentioned species had been found. This humanoid species, which lived in the Stone Age, climbed trees and hid in caves. Johannesburg located nearby and on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “Cradle of Humanity” The tomb, located within the cave system, is 30 meters below the surface.

They were not expected to engage in ‘meaningful’ activities

Previously in the Middle East and Africa 100 thousand years old graves found. In these graves the remains of Homo Sapiens, that is, the people of today, were found. Our more primitive distant relatives, such as Homo naledi, were thought to be incapable of creating meaningful structures such as tombs.

The grave discovered in Africa 200 thousand years It goes back to the past. Homo naledi was discovered in 2013 as a short (about 1.5 meters) race that walked on two legs, had curved fingers, could use tools, but had a brain volume the size of an orange.