Another amazing discovery from Africa.
The extraordinary remains are thought to represent a period of evolutionary transition between tree-dwelling apes and the earliest human ancestors, or hominids, to take their first tentative steps on two feet. Their position at the very root of our family tree has led scientists to claim that the skeletons will help define what it means to be human.
The remains were recovered alongside the fossilised bones of at least 25 other animals, including sabre-toothed cats, a hyena, a wild dog, several antelope and a horse, according to two reports in the journal Science. At the time the creatures died, the region was dominated by a grassy plain crossed by wooded valleys.
The discovery of the mass grave has led researchers to suggest that the ancient animals and the hominids fell into the cave network through "death trap" holes in the surface and were unable to escape. The skeletons were so well preserved that palaeontologists believe the two individuals fell into the cave together and were dead and buried within days or weeks.
The remains, found in the Malapa cave network at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site 40km outside Johannesburg, have already triggered a row over their identity, because they share anatomical features with both early humans from the genus, Homo, and their ancient predecessors, the Australopithecines, or southern apes.
