Proteomics suggests all Homo naledi skeletons from Rising Star cave are female

A proteomic analysis of 20 Homo naledi teeth from the Rising Star cave in South Africa found no AMELY (male) markers, suggesting all examined skeletons are female. The finding includes specimens once thought to be male (e.g., DH1 and Neo) and raises questions about sex representation or a possible AMELY deletion, with researchers noting this is a surprising result that requires more sampling to understand the biology and evolution of the species. The study, published in Cell (2026), also highlights shared protein variants with Paranthropus robustus and underscores the potential of ancient proteins to illuminate sex in extinct hominins.