Fossils of archaic human found in a cave are the same sex. Scientists want to learn why
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A groundbreaking discovery in South Africa's deep Rising Star Cave system has left scientists scratching their heads: all 20 Homo naledi individuals whose teeth were recently analyzed appear to be biologically female. Using advanced proteomic analysis, researchers found no trace of Amelogenin-Y, the protein marker for males, pushing the controversial theory of complex, sex-specific burial rituals in this small-brained human relative back into the spotlight. For over a decade, scientists like paleoanthropologist Lee Berger have puzzled over the unusual uniformity of Homo naledi fossils from the Dinaledi Chamber, lacking the size and shape variations typically seen between sexes in other hominin. This new evidence, published on June 24, 2026, either points to a never-before-seen burial practice where only females were interred in this specific chamber or suggests a rare biological quirk where Homo naledi males lacked the AMELY gene. Either scenario fundamentally alters our understanding of this species that lived between 335,000 and 241,000 years ago, highlighting a level of cultural sophistication or genetic anomaly previously thought impossible for a hominin with a brain no bigger than a chimpanzee's. The team, including lead author Palesa Madupe and senior author Enrico Cappellini, acknowledges that while an AMELY gene deletion is a slim possibility, the cultural interpretation—sex-based mortuary practices—is incredibly compelling and demands further investigation. This discovery not only deepens the mystery surrounding Homo naledi already unusual blend of primitive and human-like traits but also champions proteomic analysis as a powerful, minimally destructive tool for unlocking ancient biological secrets. Future research will undoubtedly focus on searching for male Homo naledi remains elsewhere, or on gathering more protein data from other hominin species to see where this enigmatic relative truly fits in our evolutionary story.