Insights into the Burial Practices of Homo Naledi and Other Ancient Human Relatives.

Homo naledi, an early hominin with a brain one-third the size of humans, displayed intelligence beyond its brain size, according to a new discovery. Researchers found that the species buried its dead and marked the graves, making it the first non-human species in history known to do so. The finding challenges the idea that bigger brains equate to higher intelligence. Scientists also learned that Homo naledi had fire and practiced ritual burials, a behavior previously assumed to be only done by humans. The species may have even been placing artifacts in graves with the bodies.