In 2004, a team of anthropologists discovered the remains of a tiny, unknown hominin on the Indonesian island of Flores. The creature, named Homo floresiensis or "the hobbit," stood about a meter tall and had a brain the size of a chimpanzee's. However, its features were a mix of modern and ancient traits, sparking a controversy over whether it was a new species or a pathological modern human.
Initial research suggested that the hobbit may have evolved from a population of Homo erectus that became isolated on the island. However, others proposed that the hobbit was a modern human with a developmental disorder. A third theory suggested that the hobbit may have evolved from an earlier, unknown hominin species.
Recent studies have supported the idea that the hobbit is a unique species, with revised dates placing its existence between 100,000 and 60,000 years ago. The discovery of another new hominin species, Homo luzonensis, in the Philippines has further complicated the evolutionary story of humans.
Despite ongoing excavations and attempts to extract DNA from the hobbit's bones, its exact place in the human family tree remains a mystery. However, researchers continue to explore new methods, such as analyzing ancient proteins, to unravel the mystery of the hobbit.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. In October 2004, anthropologists discovered the bones of a tiny, unknown hominin on the Indonesian island of Flores.
2. The creature, later named Homo floresiensis, stood about a meter tall and had a brain about the size of a chimpanzee's.
3. The original description of the bones dated them to between about 35,000 and 14,000 years ago.
4. The bones were found in a limestone cave called Liang Bua, located in the western part of the island of Flores.
5. The skeleton, known as LB1, belonged to an adult female Homo floresiensis, based on the shape of her pelvis and the fact that her wisdom teeth had come in.
6. Since the discovery of LB1, the remains of as many as 11 other members of her species have been recovered.
7. The hobbits, as they are commonly known, had a mix of ancient and modern features, including a small brain, short stature, and archaic-looking wrist bones.
8. The team that discovered the bones suggested that Homo floresiensis evolved from a population of Homo erectus that became isolated on the island of Flores.
9. Other experts argued that the hobbits were actually modern Homo sapiens with a pathological condition, such as Laron Syndrome or microcephaly.
10. In 2017, some experts tested the hypothesis that Homo floresiensis evolved from another, earlier hominin species, using skeletal data from 11 different hominin species.
11. The results suggested that Homo floresiensis shared a common ancestor with Homo habilis, a hominin that lived in Africa between 2.4 million and 1.4 million years ago.
12. The consensus among most experts is that Homo floresiensis is probably its own unique species.
13. In 2019, scientists announced the discovery of a new species of hominin, named Homo luzonensis, dated to about 50,000 to 67,000 years old.
14. The discovery of Homo luzonensis reinforces the idea that there is still much to be learned about the human family tree.
15. Excavations at the cave where the original hobbit was found are ongoing, and anthropologists are trying to unravel the mystery of the hobbit at the molecular level.