Homo floresiensis were discovered on the island of Flores, Indonesia. Their skeletons appear to be around 3 feet tall similar to australopithecus afarensis Lucy. There are many competing theories about how the homo floresiensis came to the island, their size, and their demise. Because of their isolation of being on an island it is likely that they evolved much slower than other groups. The island is hundreds of miles off shore of any mainland leading scientists to believe that the homo floresiensis had to have traveled to the island by watercraft or walk across while the continents were still a giant land mass. I think it is interesting that the homo floresiensis lived in what is now such an isolated area. The idea of isolation has always been something I have been interested in because they have to be very self sufficient. Even today there are still groups of people across the world that live in isolation, some that still live very primitive lifestyles.
Despite a giant land mass they were still much smaller than other primates during the time. They had relatively small brains, flat feet, and long arms. Their small brains have led scientists to believe that they were less complicated than what they evolved from yet they have been found to use stone tools which is quite remarkable. The stone tools are believed to have been used as hunting tools. There have been animal bones found that have markings on them that are from stones that were used to kill the animal then to eat it. Initially it was believed that the homo floresiensis died because of modern humans coming to the island, however, the homo floresiensis likely did not exist during the same time as modern humans since they were living at 100,000 years ago at the latest and modern humans came to be around 13,000 years ago. Another theory is that a volcano erupted that covered the island in volcanic ash that killed vegetation and animals and could have suffocated the homo floresiensis.
The homo floresiensis were found in 2004 in a cavern. The cavern likely helped preserve the bones and tools longer than if they were found in an area that has more human interaction. How a Hobbit is Rewriting the History of the Human Race explains that scientists have learned that the homo floresiensis descended from homo erectus that were stranded on the island. Scientists have learned that evolutionary dwarfism is what caused the homo floresiensis to be so small due to lack of resources. The article also shares the hypothesis that the homo floresiensis were closely related to Lucy who was an australopithecus afarensis and that they actually did not become small as a result of evolutionary dwarfism but were small from the beginning.
In my opinion, the biggest contributions these findings have made to the study of human diversity is that just as the homo floresiensis evolved by themselves on an island we continue to evolve in our different areas of the world today.
Hey! I had no idea about the species homo floresiensis, did you? I found it very interesting they average to be only three feet tall. Also, it is weird that this species has very small brains and Neanderthals had bigger brains. Is this because where they lived? When they were alive? What do you think causes the large difference in these two species brain size? I also liked how they used the Lucy example to explain more about Homo Floresiensis and when t\his species was found to study the fossils. I think studying fossilized remains is very important because it helps paleanthropologst and other scientists see how genus homo species have evolved since the beginning of time and what traits are useful and not useful;l for survival.
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I really thought the Homo Floresiensis was a very interesting topic this week. It was very unusual for a hominoid to have such a small brain but still have the mental capacity to build tools and be an active hunter. Before taking this class I would have wondered how developed the Homo Floresiensis really were since they were capable tool builders, but knowing that chimps and other non human primates often use and make tools along with hunt other animals using the tools, I know that the Homo Floresiensis could have had a very small mental capacity. In a lecture video it was recalled that neanderthals never really explored into art or shelter making, a sign that although they were developing, they were definitely less developed then anatomically modern humans. I feel that this is the case for the Homo Floresiensis.
I also found the Homo Floresiensis to be a really interesting topic for discussion and to understand that they had a much smaller brain with much less functioning possibilities in comparison to us and still being able to survive in isolation on an island is really interesting. They had to come up with strategies for survival and how to hunt and kill and also seek shelter from possible volcanoes, etc. It was indicated that they killed animals with stones, due to the impact markings found on the bones of animals, this shows that even with such minimal mental capacity and functioning they were able to survive and they found ways to make sure that they hunted and were able to use tools. I also think its interesting because they were also considered to be very small so its interesting to think they were able to manipulate their bodies for the purpose of hunting successfully.
Good job on this blog post! I found this week’s lectures very interesting. I had no idea that the homo floresiensis even existed. The main thing I found extremely interesting about them was the fact that they were so small and had such a small brain. I thought that they would be the complete opposite of that due to their environment. You would think that a smaller brain would mean less abilities and mental capacity but that is obviously wrong since they hunted so well. What do you think about this? Why do you think that they were so small? I like your opinion on why you believe studying fossils is so important. I think it just gives us so much information on how we evolved and how we use our abilities today differently than these species did.
Hi! I loved your post. I also find the idea of isolation super interesting. I took a class last semester where we watched a video all about this group of people that live on this island in complete isolation. These people are so isolated that they live lifestyles that are considered by our modern standards, “ancient”. The video argues that this group would benefit from modern societal intervention so that they can benefit from modern medicine, technology, etc. But I personally believe that if they are able to function and survive comfortably as a society, then there is nothing wrong with letting them live their “primitive” lifestyle. I can’t remember exactly where or what they were called, but I think it relates to the point you were getting at and I found it super interesting!