Tooth proteins hint Homo naledi at Rising Star may have been all female
A new study of preserved dental enamel proteins from about 20 Homo naledi individuals at South Africa’s Rising Star cave finds no signature of amelogenin Y, suggesting the group could be all female and fueling the idea of deliberate burial at the site. However, absence of Y does not prove all-female status, and alternative explanations—such as genetic variation, inbreeding, or a loss of the Y gene—could also explain the results. More evidence is needed before drawing firm conclusions about the population’s sex composition or burial practices.