Oldest human burial in Africa ------------------------------------ Archaeologists have found remains of a child buried at a cave in Kenya 78,000 years ago, which provide new insights into the origin of mortuary practices on the continent of our species’ birth ------------------------------------ Burial sites Homo sapiens Neanderthals Other hominins in genus Homo Evidence of burials of early humans in Africa is scarce, in contrast with Eurasia Tabun C1 ~122 ka* Shanidar Cave 70-60 ka Skhul and Qafzeh 130-90 ka Sima de los Huesos 500-400 ka Taramsa Hill ~69 ka Gran Dolina 850-780 ka Herto 160-150 ka El Sidrón ~49 ka KENYA Border Cave ~74 ka Rising Star Cave 335-236 ka Bodo ~600 ka Panga ya Saidi ~78 ka Remains of 3-year-old Homo sapiens named Mtoto – “child” in Swahili – found at cave Partial skeleton Skull 5cm Artist’s reconstruction of Mtoto’s burial pit *ka = one thousand years ago ------------------------------------ EVIDENCE OF INTENTIONAL BURIAL Mtoto’s flexed body, lying on right side with knees drawn toward chest, testifies to deliberate preparation Position of head suggests support – such as pillow – may have been present, indicating some form of funerary rite Support Reconstruction of child’s original position Microscopic analysis shows body was rapidly covered by sediment, scooped up from cave floor, and decomposed in situ ------------------------------------ © GRAPHIC NEWS Source: Nature Pictures: Jorge González/Elena Santos, Martinón-Torres