• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Indonesian "Hobbit" May Represent a New, Tiny Human Species:Scientists

Posted on: Saturday, 5 March 2005, 09:00 CST

Indonesian "Hobbit" may represent a new, tiny human species: scientists

WASHINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The fossil of a one-meter " Hobbit" recently discovered in Indonesia may represent a separate species of early humans, said a study published Thursday on Science Express, the on-line edition of the US journal Science.

An international team of researchers reached the conclusion after CAT scans of the fossil skull and comparisons with the skulls of humans, chimpanzees and other human ancestors, including the tool- making homo erectus who lived in southeast Asia more than one million years ago.

Scientists from the United States, Australia and Indonesia said the one-meter specimen, nicknamed the "Hobbit" after a literary character, showed clearly it was a normal adult of its species.

The Hobbit's brain, about 417 cubic centimeters in size, had unique brain features that could allow advanced behaviors such as hunting, firemaking and the use of stone tools.

The Hobbit was among the tiny fossils of as many as eight individuals found in layers dated from 95,000 to 12,000 years ago in a cave on the Indonesian island of Flores. The Hobbit skeleton was the most complete specimen and the only one with the skull. The discovery was announced last October.

In the study, researchers created a three-dimensional model of the Hobbit brain using computer topography that was able to show the wrinkles, vessels and other surface features of it.

The new human species theory has drawn skepticism. Critics said the bones could represent a modern human suffering from a form of microcephaly, or a human pygmy.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

More News in this Category