Discovery of 'Hobbits' Ancestors

SOURCE www.nbcnews.com
Fossil remains suggest that early human species known as 'hobbits' had even shorter ancestors. An adult human arm bone discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores indicates that earlier relatives were 2.4 inches shorter and existed at least 700,000 years ago.

Key Points

  • Fossil remains suggest early human species known as 'hobbits' had even shorter ancestors
  • Homo floresiensis arrived on the Indonesian island of Flores almost a million years ago and quickly evolved to be smaller
  • The species' reduction in size may be linked to limited food supply on the island

Pros

  • Insight into the evolution and size reduction of early human species
  • Supports the theory that Homo floresiensis descended from Homo erectus

Cons

  • Uncertainty about how the diminutive species ended up marooned on an island