Indonesian and Australian archaeologists were taken aback when they discovered the remains of a previously unknown species of human, Homo floresiensis, in a limestone cave on the Indonesian island of Flores. The species lived as recently as 18,000 years ago, making it a remarkable find. The initial aim of the excavation was to uncover evidence of the earliest modern humans in Indonesia. However, the discovery of a completely new human species with many primitive traits has raised many questions about the diversity of the human family and our place in nature.

The discovery has led to speculation about undiscovered human-like species that may still exist today. The existence of Homo floresiensis raises questions about whether we are the only human species to have inhabited the planet. It also raises the possibility of the orang pendek of Malay folklore being a real species. This has brought cryptozoology into the mainstream once again.

Far-flung Flores has been an isolated island for at least a million years, allowing its fauna to evolve independently of mainland relatives. This isolation has profoundly affected the human inhabitants, leading to the evolution of distinct physical characteristics. Homo floresiensis was no more than a metre tall and lived in a hole in the ground. The tiny-brained creatures were skilled enough to make finely crafted stone tools.

The clue to the origin of Homo floresiensis comes from earlier work suggestive of the presence of full-sized pre-humans on Flores. The discovery of stone tools on the island dating back 800,000 years implies that the toolmakers, presumably Homo erectus, were capable of navigating the open sea, leading to the possibility that once marooned on Flores, Homo erectus evolved into Homo floresiensis.

The small size of Homo floresiensis may be an adaptive response to scarce resources on isolated islands. The discovery of such a strange species of human surviving until a very recent date is significant. Modern Homo sapiens had been present in Indonesia for at least 20,000 years by the time of Homo floresiensis’ existence.

The discovery has led experts to examine the possibility of parallel species, such as the orang pendek of Sumatra. The excavation team has also heard tales of similar little hairy people in a village in central Flores. The discovery of Homo floresiensis opens avenues for further research and exploration into the diversity of human life on this planet.

The ebu gogo were a unique species, measuring about one meter tall with long hair, pot-bellies, and protruding ears. They had long arms and fingers and walked with a slightly awkward gait. Ebu gogo were able to climb slender trees but were never seen with stone tools, unlike Homo floresiensis who left behind many sophisticated artifacts. This inconsistency is the only discrepancy in the archaeological evidence and initially led to the stories being dismissed as mere folklore, much like leprechaun tales. However, the discovery of the hobbit led to renewed interest and speculation about the possibility of the ebu gogo still being alive today.

Roberts believes that the species may still exist, as the last hobbit sighting was reported just before Dutch colonists arrived in Flores in the 19th century. He suggests searching the remaining rainforests and caves associated with ebu gogo stories to find hair or other biological material. It is not far-fetched to think that new mammal species may still be discovered, as Southeast Asia is known for its unique fauna. Recent discoveries include the antelope Pseudoryx nghetinhensis in the Lao-Vietnamese border and the kouprey in Cambodia.

Morwood and Roberts plan to continue their search, with Sulawesi and Sumba high on their list of targets. However, the discovery of the hobbit raises a broader question about the uniqueness of human heritage. While it was once believed that humans had a distinct lineage from apes, this idea has been challenged by the discovery of ancient primate fossils. The Flores finds add to the evidence of human diversity and challenge the notion that humans are the only species that modify their surroundings.

Overall, the Flores finds suggest that there is still much to learn about our shared evolutionary history and the diversity of life on Earth.

Tim White expresses that Darwin and Wallace would have been pleased with the discovery of Homo floresiensis, as it demonstrates that humans follow the same evolutionary rules as other mammals. However, there is concern among anthropologists about how this discovery challenges the definition of humanity in terms of anatomy. With its small stature and tiny brain, Homo floresiensis raises questions about what it truly means to be human. The fact that this creature was a tool-maker, hunter, and potentially descended from the world’s first mariners highlights the gaps in our understanding about human evolution.

Russell Ciochon predicts that creationists may react negatively to this discovery since it diminishes the uniqueness of humans. There may be other dwarfed species living on isolated islands, and each new discovery could subtract from the essence of what it means to be human. Ciochon wonders if this discovery will be discussed in the current political campaign and suggests that if Bush is anti-evolution, he should avoid touching this topic. For additional reading, there are sources such as evidence that Homo erectus crossed open sea to reach the remote island of Flores, new ages for human occupation and climatic change at Lake Mungo, and a new hominid from the Upper Miocene of Chad, Central Africa.