A rock sitting quietly in a university lab turned out to contain something far more remarkable than anyone realized: what may be the most complete early human ancestor skeleton ever found. Researchers in South Africa now believe the fossil belongs to Karabo, the reference specimen of Australopithecus sediba.
The discovery was announced by scientists at the Wits Institute for Human Evolution in Johannesburg. While the fossil is still locked inside stone, early observations suggest it includes several major parts of the skeleton that could provide an unusually detailed look at one of humanity’s ancient relatives.
The project also drew attention for another reason. Rather than waiting until the work was finished, the team wanted people to follow the process live turning fossil preparation into something anyone could watch as it happened.
One of the Most Complete Fossils Ever Found
The newly identified remains are believed to belong to Karabo, the type skeleton of Australopithecus sediba, first discovered in 2009 at the Malapa Site in South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind.
According to Prof. Lee Berger, the team has already identified several major parts of the body inside the rock. These include sections of a jaw, what appears to be a complete femur, as well as ribs, vertebrae and other limb elements.
“We have discovered parts of a jaw and critical aspects of the body including what appear to be a complete femur (thigh bone), ribs, vertebrae and other important limb elements, some never before seen in such completeness in the human fossil record,” Berger said.
The researcher added that some of these structures had never before been seen in such completeness in the human fossil record. The skeleton remains embedded in solid rock, so the full picture will only emerge during preparation.
The Discovery Had Sat in a Lab for Years
One detail makes the story even more surprising: the rock had already been collected years earlier. As reported by Phys.org, the fossil block, roughly one meter across, was discovered almost three years ago but stayed unnoticed in Wits laboratories until early last month.
From the outside, there was little to suggest what it contained. The remains are not visible to the casual observer and stayed hidden inside the stone until researchers recognized their significance. Berger said the team was especially excited because the newly identified sections appear to include some of the most informative parts of the skeleton.
“We are obviously quite excited as it appears that we now have some of the most critical and complete remains of the skeleton, albeit encased in solid rock. It’s a big day for us as a team and for our field as a whole,” he said.
A Fossil Dig Open to All
At the same time as announcing the discovery, the University of the Witwatersrand, the Gauteng Provincial Government and the South African national government introduced an unusual plan: opening the fossil preparation process to the public.
Based on the information shared by the same source, when the find was made, a laboratory studio created with theNational Geographic Society was installed at the Maropeng Visitor Centre in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Visitors were able to watch the work in person, while others could follow the process online.
“The public will be able to participate fully in live science and future discoveries as they occur in real time — an unprecedented moment in palaeoanthropology,” said Berger.
Karabo’s skeleton is now entering a new phase of exploration. The next stages of work will gradually reveal what these remains can contribute to our understanding of early human ancestors.
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