# Is the stone found by the hand in the Hill Antechamber Feature an artefact placed with the body? · Homo naledi and the Rising Star burial claims > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7XG7DZN/is-the-stone-found-by-the-hand-in-the-hill-antechamber Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:40+00:00 --- **0** # Is the stone found by the hand in the Hill Antechamber Feature an artefact placed with the body? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Were the Hill Antechamber and Dinaledi features bodies placed in dug pits and deliberately covered?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7DW1XKH/were-the-hill-antechamber-and-dinaledi-features-bodies)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None 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 A grave good would strengthen the burial reading; a natural stone would not. The authors compare its shape to a tool; critics suggest it may be a geofact⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D38WW6G22RF/evidence-for-deliberate-burial-of-the-dead-by-homo-naledi)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D38X03G25V3/no-scientific-evidence-that-homo-naledi-buried-their-dead). ## Answers 3 [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/answers/ANS0D38XGYJ67XS/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The stone is a natural clast that ended up near the hand.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/answers/ANS0D38XGEY6EGC/the-stone-is-a-natural-clast-that-ended-up-near-the-hand) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**The stone is a shaped tool placed with the body.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/answers/ANS0D38XFZA7N6Q/the-stone-is-a-shaped-tool-placed-with-the-body) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 2024[Martinón-Torres et al. puts forward: the stone is a natural clast that ended up near the hand.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D38X03G25V3/no-scientific-evidence-that-homo-naledi-buried-their-dead) 1. 2025[Berger et al. puts forward: the stone is a shaped tool placed with the body.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D38WW6G22RF/evidence-for-deliberate-burial-of-the-dead-by-homo-naledi) 1. 2025[Berger et al.: the stone lies against the articulated hand within the feature and has a tool-like outline.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D38WW6G22RF/evidence-for-deliberate-burial-of-the-dead-by-homo-naledi)For: The stone is a shaped tool placed with the body. 1. 2025[Hawks & Berger: no lithic analysis of the stone has been published; it is known from CT and video.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D38X1AJ3EWZ/supporting-material-for-homo-naledi-burial-hill-antechamber)For: The stone is a natural clast that ended up near the hand. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7XG7DZN/is-the-stone-found-by-the-hand-in-the-hill-antechamber%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7XG7DZN/is-the-stone-found-by-the-hand-in-the-hill-antechamber%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7XG7DZN/is-the-stone-found-by-the-hand-in-the-hill-antechamber%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7XG7DZN/is-the-stone-found-by-the-hand-in-the-hill-antechamber%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7XG7DZN/is-the-stone-found-by-the-hand-in-the-hill-antechamber%23add-source) Where it fits Homo naledi and the Rising Star burial claims [**Were the Hill Antechamber and Dinaledi features bodies placed in dug pits and deliberately covered?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7DW1XKH/were-the-hill-antechamber-and-dinaledi-features-bodies)Key question · 4 answers, inconclusive [Did Homo naledi make the cross-hatched marks on the walls of the Hill Antechamber?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X85A4VBA/did-homo-naledi-make-the-cross-hatched-marks-on-the-walls-of)Open · 4 answers, inconclusive **Is the stone found by the hand in the Hill Antechamber Feature an artefact placed with the body?** You're here · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]