John Hawks

John Hawks

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Rising Star cave system

The first molecular data from Homo naledi
Protein data from the Rising Star cave system show the known sample of this species is entirely female.
 • John Hawks
Ten years of Homo naledi in my world
I reflect on the experience since the scientific description of the species was published in 2015
 • John Hawks
How Homo naledi got into the Dinaledi Chamber
New research from Dirk van Rooyen gives the most detailed look ever at the entry path into the deepest parts of the Rising Star cave system.
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: Understanding how Homo naledi walked and ran
A new paper in the Journal of Anatomy presents a reconstructed lower limb based on the Rising Star fossil sample.
 • John Hawks
Finding ancient fire use in the Rising Star cave system
The study of the underground landscape enters a new phase with evidence of charcoal and burned animal bone in deep chambers.
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: Pelvic fragment from the Lesedi Chamber
A new paper from our team led by Zachary Cofran looks at the immature ilium that is currently the most complete pelvic fragment of Homo naledi.
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: A partial skull from Rising Star
Our team uncovered the tiny skull in a near-impossible crevice deep in the cave system.
 • John Hawks
Fossil profile: U.W. 101-258 and humeral torsion
A humerus from the Dinaledi Chamber gives some insight into the behavior of Homo naledi.
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: A look at the questions raised by Homo naledi
A chapter that presents some of the key topics shaping our continuing investigations of the Rising Star cave system.
 • John Hawks
Lecture: How Homo naledi matters to our origins
A lecture in 2020 covering some of the latest research and new questions arising from the Rising Star cave system.
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: Introducing a juvenile skeleton of Homo naledi
We put together excavation records, 3D imagery, and laboratory analysis of bones and teeth to understand the preservation of a skeleton from the…
 • John Hawks
My photo of the Neo skull is named one of the top science images of the year
I am feeling really honored to have one of my photos of Neo included as one of Cosmos magazine’s “Top 10 science images of 2017”.
 • John Hawks
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