Discovery of 'hobbit' Remains Rewrites Human Evolution History

In 2003, scientists discovered human remains resembling hobbits on the island of Flores, Indonesia. This unusual finding suggested a previously unknown line of human evolution. Named for their size, the DNA of these mummies did not match any known human lineage. Initially believed to be children, the "Homo floresiensis" [hoh-moh floh-ree-see-en-sis] were confirmed as ancient evolutionary cousins of humans. They represent a unique lineage that existed during a time when multiple human species coexisted. These skeletons were found in the Liang Bua [lee-ang boo-ah] cave. Known as "hobbits", these remains were found to be of humans with a very short stature, approximately 1 meter tall. Analysis of their physical characteristics and DNA concluded that they did not belong to any known human species. This sparked significant debate within the scientific community regarding human evolution.