2 million-year-old skeleton found in Cradle of Humankind

2 million-year-old skeleton found in Cradle of Humankind

Remains of four A. sediba skeletons have been discovered in South Africa's Malapa cave, 50 kilometres north of Johannesburg, since 2008. The individuals are believed to have fallen into a pit in the cave and died.

It is not certain whether the species, which had long arms, a small brain and a thumb, was a direct ancestor of humans' genus, Homo, or simply a close relative.

The upright-walking tree climber would have been aged between nine and 13 years when he or she died.

The skeleton is thought to be about 2 million years old.

The remains of a juvenile hominid skeleton, of the newly identified Australopithecus (southern ape) sediba species, are the "most complete early human ancestor skeleton ever discovered"