The Flores “Hobbit” is not a new species

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The “Hobbit” remains found on the island of Flores in Indonesia was thought to be a new species of homonid. The remains found in the cave were about 18,000 years-old and found with other skeletons, sea shell jewlery, and various other tools and items.

After some study by scientists, they concluded that it is not and entirely new species.

But today a joint Indonesian, Australian and American team publishes the most detailed critique to date, arguing that the skeletal remains found in Liang Bua Cave on Flores do not represent a new species as claimed two years ago, but some of the ancestors of modern human pygmies who live on the island today.

Prof Teuku Jacob, of Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia, who became embroiled in a dispute over whether he was holding on to the Hobbit bones after the initial discovery, claims that there are four lines of evidence where the 2004 evaluation is wrong. He reports today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences with colleagues.

Geographically, Flores had at least two migrations of ancient pygmy elephants from nearby islands, making it highly unlikely that ancestral humans arrived only once and remained in isolation – a key prerequisite for a dwarf variety to evolve.

Telegraph.co.uk – The ‘Hobbit’ is just a pygmy after all, claim scientists

What is interesting is how certain scientists are being very selective in what supportive data they will “allow” when deciding if this information is accurate or not. Perhaps it’s the fact that this information shakes up the tree of life a bit. I don’t know.

I still think the whole find is fascinating.

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