Research roundup: February 2026
Each month, we publish a roundup of new human origins research supported by Leakey Foundation grants. This is the science your support makes possible.
Oldest known cremation in Africa poses mystery about Stone Age hunter‑gatherers
An ancient cremation would have been a community spectacle in a place returned to and reignited over many generations. What was behind this unexpected funeral ritual?
Grantee Spotlight: Asithandile Ntsondwa
Asithandile Ntsondwa is a doctoral student at New York University whose research focuses on human-environment interactions and the role of fire in shaping ancient landscapes
Grantee Spotlight: Sylvester Musyoka
Sylvester Musyoka is a 2025 Baldwin Fellow who uses fossil antelope teeth to learn how past environments influenced human evolution.
A story of human survival
Primatologist John Mitani reflects on his parents' incarceration under Executive Order 9066 and what human origins research tells us about fear, survival, and our capacity for cooperation.