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Homo naledi

In 2015 Wits University announced the discovery of the single largest fossil hominin find yet made in Africa: Homo naledi.

A reconstruction of the skull of Leti, the first Homo naledi child whose remains were found in the Rising Star cave in Johannesburg © WITS UNIVERSITY

Introducing Leti - the newest member of the Homo naledi fossils

The first partial skull of a Homo naledi child has been found in the remote depths of the Rising Star Cave System in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site near Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Leti - A child of darkness

The child’s skull was found alone, and no remains of its body have been recovered. The team have named the child “Leti” (pronounced Let-e) after the Setswana word “letimela” meaning “the lost one”.

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Discovery. For Good

The discovery of Homo naledi is "one of the greatest fossil discoveries of the past half century” - National Geographic

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