Archaeologists have unearthed a 700,000-year-old humerus bone on the Indonesian island of Flores. This bone belonged to an adult and is the smallest known in the human fossil record.
The discovery at the Mata Menge excavation site suggests the ancestors of Homo floresiensis, nicknamed the 'Hobbit,' were even smaller than previously believed, estimated at 1.03 to 1.08 meters tall.
The humerus size supports the theory of island dwarfism, where species shrink due to limited resources and isolation.
Newly discovered teeth from the same site show similarities to Homo erectus, hinting at a closer evolutionary link. This finding adds to the complex story of early human evolution.
The research team, led by Dr. Gert van den Bergh from the University of Wollongong, highlights the importance of these discoveries. They are rewriting the history of human evolution in Southeast Asia.
These findings enhance our understanding of Homo floresiensis and the intricate nature of human evolutionary history.