According to a scientist behind unearthing of the new species, thousands of fossils, which could add up to 15 more Homo naledis remained untouched inside the South African cave at Cradle of Humankind world heritage site.

Scientists unearthed 15 fossilized bodies of earlier unknown human species from an underground graveyard. It can't be denied that the discovery could hugely affect and change the history of mankind.

While talking to TOI, Matthew Skinner, ex Skinner, expert of biological anthropology at the University of Kent said that the remains will be giving them an insight into origins of the lineage which could ultimately result into appearance of our own species, Homo sapiens.

He said, "It is the combination of both modern and ancient traits that makes us confident this is a new species. Further analysis is required to tell us what this speci es ate and age of the remains are".

As per professor Paul Dirks, they will come back to the caves before the end of the year for further mapping and sampling. He said that the most important thing is to get a detailed and reliable date for the fossils so that they can be put within a better constrained evolutionary context. He added that keeping in mind the geological condi gical conditions in the cave, this is going to be a difficult task.

Experts said that Homo naledi has a small head and brain, hunched shoulders, powerful hands and thin limbs. It was built for long-distance walking and was around five feet tall, was broad chested, walked upright and had a face with a smile that was quite human than apelike. The strong hands of the species imply it was also a climber.