Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
lee bergerlatest news & developments
The discovery of a new species of human relative, Homo Naledia was unveiled at The Cradle of Human Kind at Maropeng in Johannesburg, South Africa. Naledi was discovered in a hard to reach chamber in the Rising Star Cave which has led scientists to believe that the Hominids had a understanding of the finality of death. Naledi stood about 1,5m high, had a unique mix of primitive and modern features with a tiny brain about the size of an orange, a slender body and unusually curved fingers. (Photo by Denzil Maregele/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
COLUMNS

The no-prisoner Naledi wars

DREW FORREST looks at the fierce academic controversies ignited by South Africa’s most recent hominin find

  • Drew Forrest
8 min read
The discovery of a new species of human relative, Homo Naledia was unveiled at The Cradle of Human Kind at Maropeng in Johannesburg, South Africa. Naledi was discovered in a hard to reach chamber in the Rising Star Cave which has led scientists to believe that the Hominids had a understanding of the finality of death. Naledi stood about 1,5m high, had a unique mix of primitive and modern features with a tiny brain about the size of an orange, a slender body and unusually curved fingers. (Photo by Denzil Maregele/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
CHAOS CHAMBER

Unearthing Leti, the child of darkness

The first partial skull of a Homo naledi child, which is believed to be 250 000 years old, has been found in the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
GENES

What to expect from the world of science in 2016

Science continues to shift the boundaries of what we think we know and 2016 will be no exception. Sarah Wild highlights the fields to keep an eye on.

  • Sarah Wild
7 min read
A file image of Wits University’s Professor Lee Berger.
CRADLE OF HUMAN KIND

Scientists bag more than 1 000 fossils at Cradle ‘treasure trove’

Less than a month since excavation began at the Cradle of Humankind after a "spectacular" fossil find, scientists have found more than 1 000 fossils.

  • Sarah Wild
3 min read
Professor Lee Burger is keeping mum on the latest hominid finds for now. (Oupa Nkosi, M&G)
FOSSILS

Wanted: Small-chested, skinny scientists for deep excavation

World-renowned archaeologist Professor Lee Berger has specifically recruited a group of small-chested scientists to help with his latest project.

  • Sarah Wild
2 min read
FOSSILS

New hominid skeleton named Karabo

A recently discovered juvenile hominid skeleton, of the new <i>Australopithecus Sediba</i> species, was given the name Karabo on Monday.

  • Phindile Chauke
2 min read
Nine-year-old finds fossil of new hominid species
CRADLE OF HUMANKIND

Nine-year-old finds fossil of new hominid species

The nine-year-old son of a Wits scientist found a fossil of a new hominid species that lived 1,95m years ago, the scientist revealed on Thursday.

  • Staff Reporter
1 min read
LEE BERGER

Extinct ‘Hobbit’ population discovered in Palau

An extinct population of small-bodied humans has been found on the Palau group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, a University of the Witwatersrand researcher said on Tuesday.…

  • Staff Reporter
3 min read