Lee Berger (paleoanthropologist)
Lee Rogers Berger (born December 22, 1965) is an American-born paleoanthropologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. He is best known for his discoveries of Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi, two hominin species found in South Africa.
Berger's work has often been controversial, particularly his interpretations of Homo naledi and the dating methods used to analyze the fossils. He has advocated for open-access science, making 3D scans of hominin fossils publicly available online.
Berger earned a Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology and zoology from Georgia Southern University, followed by a Ph.D. in paleoanthropology from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He has spent much of his career working in South Africa's fossil-rich Cradle of Humankind.
Key discoveries and projects led or co-led by Berger include:
- Taung Child (Australopithecus africanus): Led an expedition that rediscovered the original Taung Child site.
- Gladysvale Cave: Discovered the first hominin fossils at Gladysvale Cave.
- Australopithecus sediba: Discovered in the Malapa Cave, this species is proposed by Berger and colleagues to be a potential transitional form between Australopithecus and Homo.
- Homo naledi: Discovered in the Rising Star Cave system, this species exhibits a unique combination of primitive and modern traits. The discovery and excavation, notable for its use of small-bodied, specialized cavers, generated considerable public interest.
Berger's research has been funded by the National Geographic Society, the National Research Foundation of South Africa, and other organizations. He has authored numerous scientific papers and popular books, including "Almost Human: The Astonishing Tale of Homo naledi, and the Discovery That Changed Everything."
His work has garnered both acclaim and criticism from within the scientific community, with debates surrounding the phylogenetic placement of sediba and naledi, their ages, and the taphonomic context of their remains. He has received several awards and recognitions for his contributions to paleoanthropology.