Homo Naledi: The 'Star Man' | Prehistoric Humans Documentary

It can often be surprising to learn about the diversity of human species throughout the course of prehistory, specifically in the middle Pleistocene epoch. Over this time, a number of human species thrived in the grasslands, forests and, eventually, tundras of Planet Earth, where they adapted into a number of new, intelligent and sometimes even bizarre forms. As amazing as it is to learn about these species, it is not often easy for scientists to discern much about them.
Many remains of some of these species are fragmentary at best, even the ones that lived alongside Homo sapiens, and there are so many different species from around this time that it can be hard for scientists to determine which remains belong to which species. Enter Homo naledi, then, a species that became known to science as late as 2013. Homo naledi is an exception to this rule - over seven hundred individual skeleton elements have been uncovered from one single cave in South Africa, and scientists have, as a result, been able to establish a lot of information on what this species was, and how it lived.
Today, we will be looking at the facts surrounding Homo naledi, from its initial evolution, right through to its eventual discovery by modern humans just ten years ago. Along the way, we will examine where and how this hominid lived, and what it looked like, based on the fossil finds known to science. Sit back and relax as we take you on a tour through time to explore the life and death of Homo naledi - the 'star man'.
0:00 Intro
2:05 What Exactly Was Homo Naledi
6:36 How Was Homo Naledi Discovered?
9:49 How Did Homo Naledi Evolve?
12:03 How Did Homo Naledi Live?
17:28 Where Did Homo Naledi Live?
20:23 Outro
Music by CO.AG: / @co.agmusic
Thank you for watching.
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[@jenny1970ist]

I love your videos,however, the music is quite a bit louder than usual. It’s difficult for me to hear your narration over the background music in some areas of this particular video. Please keep posting your videos. I thoroughly enjoy every video you post. Thanks for reading my comment…..If you do read them.

[@BobSmith-ke4jg]

Doesn't look like they do.

[@jasminecarriker8713]

You're right.

[@johntaylor4817]

totally disconcerting. clicking off after 5"

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Here's a question or a point or something. There are "pygmies" still living as hunter-gatherers in Africa right now and they're quite a bit smaller than some other modern people. And I'd be surprised if their skeletons are exactly the same as a modern big European, with the only difference being size. I'm a mutt, mixed Irish, Scottish, English, German and at least 2 native American tribe's DNA. My head is huge, it's hard to find a hat. It could be 1/3 or more bigger than a pygmy skull. So could H Naledi be a smaller group or tribe of homo habilus or another hominid? I wonder if they were a small tribe that always lived in that cave and the nearby area or if they were spread out and we just don't have evidence of them outside of the cave yet? They're very interesting and I'm grateful for the people who had the courage to climb into that cave to find H Naledi because there's no way I'm going down there. They couldn't know if they'd get stuck. My understanding is that a large piece of ceiling fell down in the cave and made access much more difficult than it was thought to have been for H Naledi. Apparently it was a lot easier to get into before. That makes me want to know what is under the big rock they call the Dragon's Back.

[@Joeyzef94]

It’s rare I comment on a video but this documentary was brilliant! Thank you!

[@klatie256]

Thank you so much! These kinds of do documentaries are so cool for archeology nerds like me. Much love and subscribed 💜

[@loislewis5229]

I wonder what the other great apes looked like 300,000 years ago ?

[@DeannaDionne]

This is so well put together. Relaxing to watch yet interesting. I follow this topic and learned a few things! Thank you

[@ferengiprofiteer9145]

I doubt they stay in the homo line. No proof of tools or burials or fire connected to them. Lots of work to do before those dots connect.

[@georgehanson2978]

It should be added that whatever species moved the bodies to the far depths of the cave clearly had advanced mastery of fire to navigate in the darkness.

[@caseyjude5472]

Homo Naledi did it themselves. There is no other evidence of any other species deep in the cave system where Naledi had hearths, cooked meat & buried their dead. No evidence at all-nothing. Zip. Zilch. Not even modern humans discovered the ONE deep chamber until the 1980’s, and never ever went past that one chamber until now. Their brains were small, yes, but were organized like ours-bigger doesn’t mean smarter. If you’re interested in brain stuff, look up smooth brains vs wrinkled compartmented brains.

[@aussie4662]

The Netflix show Unknown: Cave of Bones shows how they may have done this with lots of little fires.

[@mackssh]

Music way Too loud

[@CZPanthyr]

Beautifully done! Thank you.

[@MB-gl7fx]

Music made it impossible to concentrate on the information.

[@kinglyzard]

Is genetic sequencing possible on this species? Are it's molars closer to Homo than to Australopithicus? Could the tool use and forebrain size be convergent with Homo? Or is it's small cranial size convergent with Australopithicus?? So many questions about this species and others

[@iamblackthorne]

They tried to obtain DNA from Homo Naledi, and have had no luck.

[@pdxoneway]

They didn't find 700 individuals in that cave . Only 15.

[@georgehanson2978]

They didn’t say 700 individuals were found.

[@AnnabelleBeaudoin]

Great video ❤

[@posticusmaximus1739]

Great video but you might want to tone down the music

[@loislewis5229]

The background music did not drown out the narration for me 🤔🧐

[@TheWhitefisher]

please give me an option without the music. I cannot listen to this. I need your information to replace my mind's intrusive music... it gives me some reason to have a brain which is not music.

[@HS97777]

The music is anonying cut it out next time, Thank you for the amazing video.

[@georgedixon8901]

They found some bones, the rest is all speculation.

[@dollyherron4857]

Music is extremely annoying had to shut it off yeah tinnitus

[@prashannadahal1624]

Animation is beautiful...

[@stevewhalen6973]

Many reflections of the beings we've come to be . Maybe a genuine distant link .

[@thomascorbett2936]

Wow, the special effects .

[@lenawitkowski1073]

The background music was too much

[@briemills9209]

Great video but the background music(?) or sound nearly drowned out the narrator . Btw, no confirmed tools have been found. Research is needed here.

[@penelope8980]

Your background noise ruins this video.

[@rainermalia4151]

Does anyone know where these artistic depictions came from? Homo naledi is my favorite topic but I've never seen this drawings!

[@alexandermantey-yf8iq]

Hi everyone, I have a question on your great video. In the beginning you say: "It can often be surprising to learn about the diversity of human species throughout the course of prehistory, specifically in the middle Pleistocene epoch. Over this time, a number of human species thrived in the grasslands, forests and, eventually, tundras of Planet Earth, where they adapted into a number of new, intelligent and sometimes even bizarre forms." What does "bizarre forms" exactly mean in terms of early humans? Does this mean: When referring to "bizarre forms" in the context of early humans, it generally means that these human species had unique or unusual physical traits, adaptations, or behaviors that differentiate them from modern humans. During the middle Pleistocene epoch, various human species coexisted and evolved in different environments, such as grasslands, forests, and eventually tundras. These species developed distinct features and adaptations in response to their specific ecological niches. Some of these features might be considered bizarre or unusual in comparison to the anatomical and behavioral traits of modern humans. For example, the Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), an extinct human species, had a robust body structure with pronounced brow ridges, a prominent nose, and a stockier build compared to modern humans. These traits might be considered unusual or distinctive when compared to the anatomical features of Homo sapiens. Similarly, other early human species like Homo erectus or Homo habilis, which lived before the middle Pleistocene epoch, had their own unique physical characteristics and behavioral adaptations that might be considered "bizarre" in the sense that they differ significantly from what we observe in modern humans. Or did you mean something else? Kind regards Alex

[@rogersanantonio199]

Whose voice is this?

[@GordonJones88]

THE MUSIC IS TOO LOUD!!

[@lisamiddleton8950]

the music is too distracting

[@alwynwardell5322]

Really great video very informative however the narration was not the best actually the voice was not good at all . Apart from that ,top marks.

[@markusgarcia4136]

How come these bones survive for so many years??

[@2nostromo]

Noise is not background music. weird. had to bail on otherwise fascinating subject

[@fellsmoke]

The assertion northern Neanderthals went extinct due to inability to complete with more intelligent humans is unwarranted.

[@liambloemendaal9021]

The entire world; nice video, really informative Americans: wtf is a KG and wtf is a cm?

[@DanCooper404]

The creepy A.I. voice is back. Edit- the annoying "music" was so loud that it drowned out the computer voice, so I bailed.

[@Oakdieu]

Impossible to watch with that ridiculous background noise

[@vanrozay8871]

Before 6 minutes I'm out, repelled by the loud music.

[@GETTY-gr7gf]

LEE BERGER SAYS IT IS NOT HUMAN.

[@jimparsons6803]

Boggle, huh? Seen a summary on PBS a few years back. Supports the notion that the internal structures of the brain are as important, or more so, when compared to mass. See the volumes of us vs Neanderthals. Even more boggle?

[@timkbirchico8542]

what a creepy voice.

[@barrynewton7631]

I don’t like the narrator! Voice is too affected - faked soft monotone. Very distracting.

[@hectorhernandez215]

Good CGI fantasy ....

[@thedonald444]

But this makes the bible untrue and just a story.......OH MY!!!!!

[@hectorhernandez215]

Nope...a man fantasy about the past can not touch the bible....all this story have been debunked in all ape to man just so stories...imagination is not science ........