Homo Floresiensis
Discovery and Classification
In 2003, a team of Australian and Indonesian researchers discovered the remains of a small hominin on the Indonesian island of Flores. These remains, which included a nearly complete skeleton and several isolated bones, were unlike anything previously found and were subsequently classified as a new species, Homo floresiensis.
The discovery was made at Liang Bua, a limestone cave on the western end of Flores. The nearly complete skeleton, known as LB1, was of a female estimated to be about 30 years old at the time of death. She stood approximately 1.06 meters (3.5 feet) tall and had a cranial capacity of about 380 cubic centimeters, which is similar to that of a chimpanzee or a human toddler.
Morphology
The morphology of Homo floresiensis is unique among hominins. The small stature and low cranial capacity are reminiscent of early hominins such as Australopithecus, yet certain features of the skull, such as the shape of the cranial vault and the presence of a pronounced brow ridge, are more similar to later hominins like Homo erectus. The teeth and jaw of Homo floresiensis also show a mix of primitive and derived features.
The postcranial skeleton of Homo floresiensis is equally intriguing. The shoulder and arm bones are more similar to those of Australopithecus and the early Homo species, while the wrist bones are more similar to those of African apes and Ardipithecus, a very early hominin. The pelvis and lower limb bones, on the other hand, are more similar to those of Homo erectus.
Evolutionary Origins
The evolutionary origins of Homo floresiensis are a matter of ongoing debate. Some researchers propose that Homo floresiensis is a descendant of Homo erectus, which was present in Southeast Asia by about 1.8 million years ago. According to this hypothesis, Homo erectus populations on Flores became isolated and underwent insular dwarfism, a phenomenon observed in other species on the island.
Others suggest that Homo floresiensis is more closely related to early hominins like Australopithecus or Homo habilis. This would imply a much earlier migration out of Africa than currently accepted, and it would also require explaining how such early hominins managed to reach Flores.
Culture and Lifestyle
Despite their small brain size, Homo floresiensis appears to have had a relatively advanced culture. They made and used stone tools, hunted small elephants and large rodents, and may have used fire. The stone tools found at Liang Bua are similar to those made by Homo erectus and early Homo sapiens, suggesting that Homo floresiensis had cognitive abilities comparable to these species.
Extinction
Homo floresiensis survived on Flores until at least 50,000 years ago, making it one of the last surviving non-modern human species. The reasons for its extinction are unclear, but may include volcanic activity, climate change, and the arrival of modern humans in the region.