# Berger 2025: Evidence for deliberate burial of the dead by Homo naledi > Lee R Berger, Tebogo Vincent Makhubela, Keneiloe Molopyane et al., 2025. 23 records on Mysteries Department cite it. The claim under test; the source for… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D38WW6G22RF/evidence-for-deliberate-burial-of-the-dead-by-homo-naledi Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) --- [Sources](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources)[Homo naledi and the Rising Star burial claims](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials)Berger 2025 **0** # Evidence for deliberate burial of the dead by Homo naledi Lee R Berger, Tebogo Vincent Makhubela, Keneiloe Molopyane et al., 2025. _eLife 12: RP89106 (version of record, 1 September 2025)_. The burial paper in its final form. Describes the Hill Antechamber Feature (excavated 2017-2018, lifted as a plaster block and CT-scanned), Dinaledi Features 1 and 2, and a re-reading of the 2013-2014 Puzzle Box area. Argues that articulated, matrix-supported skeletal regions were covered by sediment before soft tissue decayed, that slumping and floor decomposition are excluded, and that a "minimal hypothesis of hominin cultural burial" best fits the pattern. Supplementary file 1 gives trace and rare-earth element results for the sediments. **Homo naledi and the Rising Star burial claims** ArticleCopy of **[Dinaledi Feature 1](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/artifacts/ART0D38XMKR08SY/dinaledi-feature-1)** doi: **[10.7554/eLife.89106](https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.89106)** Checked against the original0 ## What it's used for here The claim under test; the source for the features, the sediment geochemistry and the dates it relies on. ## The document 128 pages [Pages][Text]Page 1 of 128 [![Page 1](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p1)1][![Page 2](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p2)2][![Page 3](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p3)3][![Page 4](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p4)4][![Page 5](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p5)5][![Page 6](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p6)6][![Page 7](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p7)7][![Page 8](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p8)8][![Page 9](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p9)9][![Page 10](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p10)10][![Page 11](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p11)11][![Page 12](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p12)12] ![Page 1 of Evidence for deliberate burial of the dead by Homo naledi](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5/p1) The first 12 pages are shown; the rest are in the file. Text taken from the file. Check it against the page. ## Cited by on this site 23 records [H. naledi dug hollows in the chamber floor, laid bodies in them and covered them with sediment; some features…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/answers/ANS0D38XBAW5W7R/h-naledi-dug-hollows-in-the-chamber-floor-laid-bodies-in) Answer ANS [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) Answer ANS [Dinaledi Feature 1](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/artifacts/ART0D38XMKR08SY/dinaledi-feature-1) ART [Dinaledi Feature 2](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/artifacts/ART0D38XMVJ5HAE/dinaledi-feature-2) ART [Hill Antechamber Feature block (HAA1)](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/artifacts/ART0D38XM44237Q/hill-antechamber-feature-block-haa1) ART [Dinaledi Feature 1: document](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/copies/CPY0D38XPJ80B1R/dinaledi-feature-1-document) CPY [Dinaledi Feature 2: document](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/copies/CPY0D38XQ1W0JJT/dinaledi-feature-2-document) CPY [Trace and rare-earth element results for Dinaledi sediments (Berger et al. 2025, Supplementary file 1)](https://mysteriesdept.com/datasets/DAT0D38XK4W36QN/trace-and-rare-earth-element-results-for-dinaledi-sediments) Dataset DAT [Articulated, matrix-supported skeletal regions show bodies were covered before soft tissue decayed.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/evidence/EVD0D38XBJP07N7/articulated-matrix-supported-skeletal-regions-show-bodies) Evidence EVD [Hominin material lies at the base of the Chute in the Hill Antechamber.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/evidence/EVD0D38XF020QP4/hominin-material-lies-at-the-base-of-the-chute-in-the-hill) Evidence EVD [Material at the base of the Chute in the Hill Antechamber fits individuals coming down the fissure.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/evidence/EVD0D38X9W01E2F/material-at-the-base-of-the-chute-in-the-hill-antechamber) Evidence EVD [The 2025 paper argues that decomposition on the floor or in a shallow depression is excluded by the spatial…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/evidence/EVD0D38XDH60756/the-2025-paper-argues-that-decomposition-on-the-floor-or-in) Evidence EVD [The 2025 paper argues the topography and sediment observations exclude slumping as the cause of rapid…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/evidence/EVD0D38XE0T64JF/the-2025-paper-argues-the-topography-and-sediment) Evidence EVD [The stone lies against the articulated hand within the feature and has a tool-like outline.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/evidence/EVD0D38XG742HRE/the-stone-lies-against-the-articulated-hand-within-the) Evidence EVD [The team argues the age profile and repeated deposition favour carrying of the dead over accidental death.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/evidence/EVD0D38XA3T0G8Z/the-team-argues-the-age-profile-and-repeated-deposition) Evidence EVD [Trace and rare-earth element chemistry of Feature 1 differs from surrounding sediment.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/evidence/EVD0D38XBTG4ATZ/trace-and-rare-earth-element-chemistry-of-feature-1-differs) Evidence EVD [Burial, engraving and meaning-making preprints are posted](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/events/EVT0D38X5Z05FG3/burial-engraving-and-meaning-making-preprints-are-posted) EVT [The Hill Antechamber Feature is excavated and lifted as a block](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/events/EVT0D38X5Q672NG/the-hill-antechamber-feature-is-excavated-and-lifted-as-a) EVT [John Hawks](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/people/FIG0D38X3922KE5/john-hawks) FIG [Lee R. Berger](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/people/FIG0D38X3181ZNQ/lee-r-berger) FIG [Homo naledi and the Rising Star burial claims](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials) The mystery article MYS [Is the stone found by the hand in the Hill Antechamber Feature an artefact placed with the body?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-naledi-burials/questions/QST0D38X7XG7DZN/is-the-stone-found-by-the-hand-in-the-hill-antechamber) Question QST [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) Question QST ## Cite it ``` Berger, L. R., Makhubela, T. V., Molopyane, K., Krüger, A., Randolph-Quinney, P., Elliott, M., Peixotto, B., Fuentes, A., & Hawks, J. (2025). Evidence for deliberate burial of the dead by Homo naledi. eLife 12: RP89106 (version of record, 1 September 2025). https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.89106 ``` [Read it free at elifesciences.org](https://elifesciences.org/articles/89106)[Download PDF · 37 MB](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/d/69d43819a2982aeddfca82ae453bcbe030041fd7a8c96a53362268d6264c2be5) Anyone can read it here; members can download it. Key **SRC** 0D38WW6G22RF Kind Journal article Rights CC-BY-4.0 Kept 26 Oct 2026 Checked Against the published article Added by [apollo](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo) The record Bibliographic records are CC0. Take this one as CSL-JSON, BibTeX or RIS. [CSL-JSON](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D38WW6G22RF/evidence-for-deliberate-burial-of-the-dead-by-homo-naledi/csl.json)