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<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidsJBC7EgRAmsI" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Archaeologists have expressed anger over the fossilised remains of ancient human relatives being sent to the edge of outer space for the first time. According to a report by <em>Live Science</em> early Wednesday (September 13), fragmentary remains of two ancient human relatives, Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi, were carried aboard a Virgin Galactic flight on September 8.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fossils were chosen by Lee Berger, a National Geographic Society explorer in residence. Berger, who is the director of Deep Human Journey at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, was instrumental in the discovery of both species.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report said that a fragment of the collarbone of Australopithecus sediba was chosen for the trip and a thumb bone from Homo naledi. In a statement, Berger said the journey of these fossils into space represented humankind's appreciation of the contribution of all of humanity's ancestors and their ancient relatives.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The issues highlighted over the space flight</strong></h2>

<p>Sharing posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, biological anthropologist Dr Alessio Veneziano identified four main issues with this space flight- 1) The lack of scientific justification for the flight; 2) Ethical issues surrounding respect for human ancestral remains; 3) Lee Berger's access to fossils; and 4) The misrepresentation of the practice of palaeoanthropology.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Two important ancient human relatives packed and ready to go where no extinct hominins have gone before! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/neverstopexploring?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#neverstopexploring</a>! <a href="https://t.co/rngRVQipef">pic.twitter.com/rngRVQipef</a></p>
— Lee R Berger (@LeeRberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeeRberger/status/1697638490018574542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The <em>Live Science</em> report further said that the space journey had been roundly criticised for lacking a scientific purpose, especially since a malfunction on the mission could have destroyed the priceless specimens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Justin Walsh, a professor of art and archaeology at Chapman University, said that the effects of spaceflight on heritage items had not been an area of scientific study. Dr Walsh said that space archaeologists like him were interested in the effect of the space environment on items in space. "But I don't think we'd use a piece of heritage from here on Earth as a test article to see what happens to it," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'This is not science'</strong></h2>

<p>Professor Sonia Zakrzewski, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Southhampton, posted on X that she was horrified a permit was granted for the space flight, and said she would use this expedition as an example in her class about unethical approaches. "This is NOT science," Professor Zakrzewski said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Echoing her concerns, Dr Walsh said that the fossilised bones were not just "scientific specimens but the remains of our collective ancestors, we owe them respect."</p>

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Archaeologists have expressed anger over the fossilised remains of ancient human relatives being sent to the edge of outer space for the first time. According to a report by Live Science early Wednesday (September 13), fragmentary remains of two ancient human relatives, Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi, were carried aboard a Virgin Galactic flight on September 8.

Archaeologists have expressed anger over the fossilised remains of ancient human relatives being sent to the edge of outer space for the first time. According to a report by Live Science early Wednesday (September 13), fragmentary remains of two ancient human relatives, Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi, were carried aboard a Virgin Galactic flight on September 8. The fossils were chosen by Lee Berger, a National Geographic Society explorer in residence. Berger, who is the director of Deep Human Journey at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, was instrumental in the discovery of both species. The report said that a fragment of the collarbone of Australopithecus sediba was chosen for the trip and a thumb bone from Homo naledi. In a statement, Berger said the journey of these fossils into space represented humankind's appreciation of the contribution of all of humanity's ancestors and their ancient relatives. The issues highlighted over the space flight Sharing posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, biological anthropologist Dr Alessio Veneziano identified four main issues with this space flight- 1) The lack of scientific justification for the flight; 2) Ethical issues surrounding respect for human ancestral remains; 3) Lee Berger's access to fossils; and 4) The misrepresentation of the practice of palaeoanthropology. Two important ancient human relatives packed and ready to go where no extinct hominins have gone before! #neverstopexploring! pic.twitter.com/rngRVQipef — Lee R Berger (@LeeRberger) September 1, 2023 × The Live Science report further said that the space journey had been roundly criticised for lacking a scientific purpose, especially since a malfunction on the mission could have destroyed the priceless specimens. Dr Justin Walsh, a professor of art and archaeology at Chapman University, said that the effects of spaceflight on heritage items had not been an area of scientific study. Dr Walsh said that space archaeologists like him were interested in the effect of the space environment on items in space. "But I don't think we'd use a piece of heritage from here on Earth as a test article to see what happens to it," he added. 'This is not science' Professor Sonia Zakrzewski, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Southhampton, posted on X that she was horrified a permit was granted for the space flight, and said she would use this expedition as an example in her class about unethical approaches. "This is NOT science," Professor Zakrzewski said. Echoing her concerns, Dr Walsh said that the fossilised bones were not just "scientific specimens but the remains of our collective ancestors, we owe them respect." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Some fossils of ancient human relatives have been sent to outer space and archaeologists are not happy

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<p>The world's oldest known burial site has been found in South Africa, containing remains of a small-brained distant relative of humans previously thought incapable of complex behaviour. According to a report by the news agency AFP on Tuesday (June 6), a team of Palaeontologists led by Lee Berger said they discovered several specimens of Homo naledi- a tree-climbing, Stone Age hominid -- buried about 30 metres (100 feet) underground in a cave system within the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO world heritage site near Johannesburg.</p>

<p>In a series of preprint papers to be published in eLife, the researchers said, "These are the most ancient interments yet recorded in the hominin record, earlier than evidence of Homo sapiens interments by at least 100,000 years."</p>

<p>The findings challenge the current understanding of human evolution. The oldest burials previously unearthed, found in the Middle East and Africa, contained the remains of Homo sapiens -- and were around 100,000 years old. And those found in South Africa, date back to at least 200,000 BC.</p>

<h2><strong>What is Homo naledi?</strong></h2>

<p>Homo naledi is a primitive species at the crossroads between apes and modern humans, which had brains about the size of oranges and stood about five feet tall. AFP reported the species had curved fingers and toes, and tool-wielding hands and feet made for walking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The species is named after the "Rising Star" cave system where the first bones were found in 2013.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Engravings forming geometrical shapes, including a "rough hashtag figure", were also found on the purposely smoothed surfaces of a cave pillar nearby.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to AFP, Lee Berger said "That would mean not only are humans not unique in the development of symbolic practices, but may not have even invented such behaviours."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Such a statement is likely to ruffle some feathers in the world of palaeontology, where Berger has previously faced accusations of lacking scientific rigour and rushing to conclusions.</p>

<p>In 2015, Berger first suggested the idea that Homo naledi was capable of more than the size of its head suggested. "That was too much for scientists to take at that time. We think it's all tied up with this big brain," he said. "We're about to tell the world that's not true."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The world's oldest known burial site has been found in South Africa, containing remains of a small-brained distant relative of humans previously thought incapable of complex behaviour.

The world's oldest known burial site has been found in South Africa, containing remains of a small-brained distant relative of humans previously thought incapable of complex behaviour. According to a report by the news agency AFP on Tuesday (June 6), a team of Palaeontologists led by Lee Berger said they discovered several specimens of Homo naledi- a tree-climbing, Stone Age hominid -- buried about 30 metres (100 feet) underground in a cave system within the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO world heritage site near Johannesburg. In a series of preprint papers to be published in eLife, the researchers said, "These are the most ancient interments yet recorded in the hominin record, earlier than evidence of Homo sapiens interments by at least 100,000 years." The findings challenge the current understanding of human evolution. The oldest burials previously unearthed, found in the Middle East and Africa, contained the remains of Homo sapiens -- and were around 100,000 years old. And those found in South Africa, date back to at least 200,000 BC. What is Homo naledi? Homo naledi is a primitive species at the crossroads between apes and modern humans, which had brains about the size of oranges and stood about five feet tall. AFP reported the species had curved fingers and toes, and tool-wielding hands and feet made for walking. The species is named after the "Rising Star" cave system where the first bones were found in 2013. Engravings forming geometrical shapes, including a "rough hashtag figure", were also found on the purposely smoothed surfaces of a cave pillar nearby. Speaking to AFP, Lee Berger said "That would mean not only are humans not unique in the development of symbolic practices, but may not have even invented such behaviours." Such a statement is likely to ruffle some feathers in the world of palaeontology, where Berger has previously faced accusations of lacking scientific rigour and rushing to conclusions. In 2015, Berger first suggested the idea that Homo naledi was capable of more than the size of its head suggested. "That was too much for scientists to take at that time. We think it's all tied up with this big brain," he said. "We're about to tell the world that's not true." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Palaeontologists find world's oldest-known burial site in South Africa

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Some fossils of ancient human relatives have been sent to outer space and archaeologists are not happy

Palaeontologists find world's oldest-known burial site in South Africa