June
28
/ 2026
Analysis of ancient proteins extracted from the fossilized teeth of Homo naledi has revealed a startling new twist in the ongoing mystery of South Africa’s Rising Star cave system. Researchers have discovered that all the individuals tested from the deep underground chamber appear to be female, lacking the crucial genetic marker for males. This unexpected finding raises profound new questions about the social structure, mortuary practices, and biological evolution of this enigmatic human relative. Scientists from an international research team used a minimally-invasive acid-etching method on enamel from 23 fossilized teeth belonging to 20 individuals found within the Dinaledi Chamber in the Rising Star cave system of South Africa to examine ancient 'Homo naledi' proteins. They searched for Amelogenin-Y, a
