Rejecting the H. naledi Ancestor

Something that has caused a great deal of controversy among both creationists and believers in atom-to-anthropologist evolution is H. naledi. Although we have discussed this before (the last post is here), some of the dust has settled and a couple of more thorough articles are available.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Lee Roger Berger research team (CC BY 4.0)
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Before we commence to digging, I want to say that there is a balance to be kept. My usual counsel to folks who get all het up about evolutionary news is to wait a spell until more information is presented. However, if stories are big enough, they need to be presented — but with a note of caution. Such was the case with Homo naledi.

There were many suspicious elements about the H. naledi stories, especially the part about remains that appeared to have been buried in a cave chamber with difficult access, implying that the creature was somewhat intelligent. Instead, the best explanation is that the remains of humans, apes, and animals (all jumbled together) were washed in by flood waters for the most part.

Another suspicious fact is that Berger, who was the purveyor of this excitement, failed to mention that he didn't bother with another part of the cave and its contents. It was much easier to access.

Also, the human bones in the mix probably suffered from the developmental pathology of cretinism. This would have had noticeable physical effects that are consistent with the remains.

No human evolution to see here, folks. Just another attempt to grab grant money and fame. The science was poor, and the ethics seem to be the moral equivalent of dealing from the bottom of the deck. Well, that's what they do, based on their naturalistic worldviews. Hopefully, we can leave this stuff buried.

One of the most confusing and enigmatic “ape-man” discoveries of the 21st century has been Homo naledi. Its discoverer was Lee Berger, a controversial American paleoanthropologist working at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa. The claims surrounding this discovery have been extolled, criticized, and debated by both evolutionists and creationists. In fact, a 2015 science news piece in The Guardian highlighted the raging controversy among secular academics over H. naledi. It was titled “Scientist who found new human species accused of playing fast and loose with the truth.”

To finish reading, click on "Homo naledi: Another Failed Evolutionary Ape-Man". But wait! If you act now, you can read another article that includes some additional material, "Making sense of ‘Homo naledi’.