Grayson West
Long before written records, human beings left their ideas about death in the earth itself. Burials are the earliest messages about belonging and what people believed mattered after life ended. The oldest remains reveal patterns of ritual and care that echo across millennia. Let’s look at 10 of the earliest human remains ever discovered.
Panga Ya Saidi, Kenya (“Mtoto” Child)
Archaeologists working in Kenya’s Panga ya Saidi cave uncovered the burial of a child aged around 2.5 to 3 years. Dating back 78,000 years, the remains were named “Mtoto” in Swahili. The discovery highlights early evidence of complex funerary traditions among ancient humans.
Taforalt (Grotte Des Pigeons), Morocco
Step back more than 15,000 years and picture the Taforalt site in present-day Morocco. Called Grotte des Pigeons by locals, it stands as one of the continent’s earliest cemeteries. The remains uncovered there still influence how archaeologists understand prehistoric North African societies today.
Uyun Al-Hammam, Jordan
Long before organized cities, people in the Levant were already laying their dead to rest. At Uyun al-Hammam in Jordan, burials dating back 16,500 years reveal human remains placed with animals. Such arrangements also suggest symbolic connections between species in the ancient Near East.
Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave Ruins, Okinawa, Japan
On Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, a Paleolithic graveyard holds some of East Asia’s oldest skeletons. Known as the Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave Ruins, the site dates between 24,000 and 20,000 years ago. Its significance also lies in revealing Japan’s earliest confirmed burial practices.
Minatogawa Man, Okinawa, Japan
Unearthed in a limestone quarry on Okinawa, the Minatogawa Man skeletons carry remarkable weight in Japanese archaeology. Estimated to be 20,000 to 22,000 years old, they are among the oldest Paleolithic remains in the country. Their discovery continues to inform studies of early East Asian populations.
Homo Naledi, Rising Star Cave, South Africa
Deep within South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind lies the remarkable Rising Star Cave system. This site yielded Homo naledi fossils, a distinct hominin species with both primitive and modern traits. Though dated 241,000–335,000 years ago, debates continue about intentional burial practices.
Red “Lady” Of Paviland, Wales
The Red “Lady” of Paviland stands as the oldest ceremonial burial discovered in Western Europe, dating back 33,000 years. Scientists found the skeleton stained with red ochre, a mineral pigment used in prehistoric rituals. Despite the feminine name, researchers determined the remains actually belong to a young man.
Spirit Cave Mummy, Nevada, USA
Archaeologists working in Nevada uncovered the Spirit Cave Mummy, preserved for 9,400 years. What stands out is not only its natural condition but also the woven mat that enclosed it. DNA evidence connects this ancient individual to the living descendants of Native American tribes today.
Kom Al-Ahmar Necropolis, Egypt
Ancient Egyptian burial practices come alive at the Kom al-Ahmar Necropolis. That vast Predynastic site houses early burial masks connected to Nekhen’s rulers, plus some of Egypt’s oldest mummification evidence. The necropolis, established around 3600 BC, remains the largest burial ground from this period.
Jebel Irhoud, Morocco (Oldest Homo Sapiens Fossils)
Ancient bones tell an extraordinary tale at Morocco’s Jebel Irhoud site, where remains from at least five individuals were unearthed. The groundbreaking find pushed back human origins by 100,000 years. This site also revealed stone tools, while the fossils, dated to 300,000 years ago, rewrote history.