Hominid Hype and Homo Naledi
Whenever a new hominin fossil is discovered, the newsmedia eagerly seizes the opportunity to go on a crusade for Darwin. The Internet is thus currently buzzing about the discovery of a new species, Homo naledi, represented by hundreds of bones found in a cave near Johannesburg, South Africa. The find is spectacular to be sure because it represents such large cache of hominin bones. In a field where a single scrap of jaw gets everyone excited, this is a big deal. But do we know that Homo naledi is the “human ancestor” that CNN, PBS, NBC, and many others are calling it? Dig into the details, and the answer is “no.” The main claim about Homo naledi is that it is a small-brained (compared to humans) hominin with a trunk similar Read More ›