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By which route did the hominins, or the bodies, reach the Dinaledi Subsystem?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of How did the remains of many Homo naledi individuals come to lie in the dark chambers of the Dinaledi Subsystem?·3 answers·0·0 following
Three answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

The present route through the Chute is extreme, and the burial claim's critics and one final reviewer treat the unknown access as the main gap⁠[1]. An easier opening changes what carrying the dead would have required⁠[2].

Answers 3

None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Through the present route, including the Chute.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible

History

  1. Dirks et al. puts forward: through the present route, including the Chute.
  2. Robbins et al. puts forward: through another opening, such as the Postbox, that is now closed or impassable.
  3. Robbins et al.: the flowstone chronology raises the Postbox as an alternative route that would cut 80 m from the approach.For: Through another opening, such as the Postbox, that is now closed or impassable.
  4. Berger et al.: hominin material lies at the base of the Chute in the Hill Antechamber.For: Through the present route, including the Chute.
  5. Asked on this site
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