University of Colorado scientists involved in the discovery of what is being called an ancient ancestor are elated to share their research on the discovery with students and science buffs worldwide.
An international team of scientists announced Thursday the that experts say could change the way people think about ancient human ancestors.
The uncovering of 15 individuals, named Homo naledi, consists of 1,550 bones and is the largest collection of hominins — a group that includes modern humans along with their ancestors — on the African continent, the University of Colorado said in a Thursday news release.
University of Colorado Denver associate anthropology professor Charles Musiba was invited to the site at the Rising Star cave system outside of Johannesburg more than a year ago when the bones were first spotted in a chamber accessible only through a complicated, narrow pathway.
“It was absolutely exciting to see something so completely different from anything we’ve seen before on not only one, but several individuals,” Musiba said from South Africa. “We realized we may be looking at something very special.”
His studies focused on the fossils’ skulls, mandibles and the site’s overall preservation.
“I think we’ve just scratched the surface,” Musiba said. “There’s going to be a lot more coming out of this cave in terms of fossils and research.”
What makes these fossils so captivating, Musiba said, is that some of the bones are human-like and some are more primitive, begging the question: Where did these beings fall along the path of human evolution?
Caley Orr, assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, was brought aboard the research team for his expertise on the anatomy of the hand.
After studying naledi’s hand and finger bones last year and over the summer, Orr will have quite the story to tell his students this fall.
“I think it will make for an interesting way to teach anatomy and to make it come alive a little bit more,” Orr said.
Amid tables filled with human skeletal remains and comparative bones like chimpanzees’, Orr carefully studied the fossilized hand bones found in South Africa.
The naledi hand shows a range of noteworthy features, Orr said, including curved fingers that suggest it was an expert tree climber.
Orr, who grew up in Fort Collins, said he is thrilled to represent Colorado in this landmark find.
“One of the most exciting things is that this amount of individuals will allow us to answer questions like: What were they eating? What were their social groups like? How did they grow up?” Orr said. “It’s just such an impressively large amount of fossils that will let us dig into detail.”
While many questions remain, Musiba said the most exciting part of the discovery for him is allowing folks around the world the ability to research along with him and the other scientists.
All of the information — including images and research that the scientists are working on — will be available on the so that people across the planet can learn about naledi as researchers do.
“This is unheard of in the field of anthropology,” Musiba said. “Teachers and students in Colorado and across the world can use this information in the classroom. The amount of opportunities for these students is very, very exciting to me.”
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ehernandez
