Research

Alone in the darkness

An international team of researchers led by Professor Lee Berger (PhD 1994, DSc 2014), chair in paleo-anthropology at the Centre for Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, revealed the first partial skull of a Homo naledi child that was found in the remote depths of the Rising Star Cave in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in November 2021. The team of 21 researchers from Wits and 13 other universities announced the discovery of parts of the skull and teeth of the child that died almost 250 000 years ago when it was approximately four to six years old. The team have named the child “Leti” meaning “the lost one”. Scientists theorise that it is likely other members of its species were involved in the skull reaching such a difficult place.

A reconstruction of the skull of Leti in the hand of Professor Lee Berger.

Image: Shivan Parusnath