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In a cave in France, 176,000 years ago, a group of Neanderthals arranged large stones in circles. The meaning of this is a mystery, but they showed signs of being burned. This could have been for warmth, protection, or as a part of a ritual. This stone circle was found deep in a cave and shows that Neanderthals went underground and far from light. This discovery is sparking debate about the previous understanding of the intelligence of human predecessors. Listen to hear more about this discovery.
Story Length: 2:52
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AIR DATE: 05/26/2016
September 22, 2015
4:50
A new species that tells us something about humans origins was recently discovered deep inside a cave in South Africa. This discovery is a mystery in many ways. How did the bones get there? What is their significance? The bones are so deep inside the cave they were almost inaccessible; scientists had to climb down a steep cliff and crawl through a cave to collect them. This new species appears to have very small brains but similar feet and hands to modern humans. It has been named Homo naledi, the newest addition to the genus Homo. Where do they fit in the story of human evolution? Listen to hear more about this remarkable discovery.
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2015
4:17
When skeletons turn up, a lot of information can be found in the bones. Knowing how to read the bones is the job of a forensic scientist. Bones can help identify missing persons, solve a murder case, or help medical research. In the Bass Donated Skeletal Collection in Tennessee, there are thousands of donated skeletons that serve as silent teachers. People come from all over the world to study these bones and learn from the information hidden in them.
Read MoreOctober 16, 2014
3:35
Cave painting has long been thought to be developed by early humans in Europe. A new discovery of equally old cave paintings on an island in Indonesia has upset this perspective and is pushing scientists to look even farther back to our human origins in Africa. Listen to this public radio story to hear more about the cave paintings themselves and to learn how archeologists discovered their true age.
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