Homo Floresiensis

Homo floresiensis - ancestor of man?

The Homo floresiensis (also: Human of Flores or Hobbit called) is a probably own kind of the kind Homo. In 2004, a complete skull of a hitherto unknown hominid species was found in the cave Liang Bua on the Indonesian island Flores. In the meantime, more than a dozen different individuals on Flores have been clearly assigned to Homo floresiensis on the basis of fossil finds. However, there is still disagreement about the classification in the genealogical tree of the hominids.

With a size of just under a meter, the Homo floresiensis compared to apes that lived in the same period, is extremely small. Homo sapiens or Homo erectus not only outperformed Homo floresiensis by more than 60cm in height but also in brain volume. Dating methods prove existence at least between 95,000 and 12,000 years ago. The Homo floresiensis was thus next to the modern humans the last still living kind of the kind Homo. At this time, the Neanderthal man was already considered extinct.

Map of Indonesia to the distribution area of ​​Homo floresiensis
The upright homo floresiensis died about 12,000 years ago. No previously found fossil is older according to dating methods. Around the same time, other inhabitants of Flores died, including Stegodon, an elephant-like animal. A gigantic volcanic eruption has probably led to the abrupt extinction of all higher mammals on Flores. Soil samples were used to identify a layer of volcanic ash. Above this layer, fossils could no longer be found.

Despite small brain volume, which corresponds more to an Australopithecinen, Homo floresiensis turned out to be much more skilled than this. Accompanying evidence confirms the use of stone tools made of volcanic rock, the hunting of significantly larger animals and the use of fire.

Homo floresiensis or Homo erectus or Homo sapiens?

Three hypotheses on the origin of Homo floresiensis or on the classification into the phylogeny of man have emerged in recent years.

1. Island dwarfing of Homo erectus

The resources are limited on an island. When a group of the genus Homo erectus came to the island, selection processes worked in the direction that the individuals became smaller and smaller. Small apes require less food and have a selective advantage on an island with limited food supply. Over the millennia Homo erectus could have gradually shrunk. Logical consequence: As the body shrinks, so does the skull and thus the brain.

2. Own species of the genus Homo

Homo floresiensis could have developed as a separate species in Asia from the Homo erectus out. This would be comparable to the Neanderthal man, who is probably just as much in Central Europe, a descendant of Homo erectus.

3. Pathological change of the body of Homo sapiens

The small body size and the small brain volume has always been associated with different diseases in the past. Not a few paleontologists believe in a pathological alteration of the skeleton due to microcephaly, Laron syndrome, Endemic cretinism or Down's syndrome. Digestion could give a DNA analysis. However, all attempts to extract the DNA of a Homo floresiensis and to examine for hereditary diseases, but failed so far.

Profile: Homo floresiensis

Genus: Homo
Species: H. floresiensis, H. erectus or H. sapiens?
Name: 'floresiensis' = coming from Flores
First found: 2004 on Flores (Indonesia)
Period: 95,000 to 13,000 years (Late Pleistocene)
Body size: approx. 1.0m
Weight: 20 - 30kg
Distribution: Indonesian island Flores
Brain volume: 400 - 450cm³
Food: vegetable and animal food
Tool use: Yes
Upright gear: Yes

Summary

The extinct species Homo floresiensis lived on the Indonesian island of Flores about 95,000 to 13,000 years ago. A volcanic eruption probably caused an abrupt end to this species.

At least three different hypotheses are represented by paleontologists to the position of Homo floresiensis: island dwarfing, distinct species of the genus Homo and pathological changes in the body. Depending on the view, the fossil record can be assigned to Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis or Homo sapiens.