In 2003, the whole world was seized by a small (literally) fever. Researchers have found the remains of a prehistoric tribe whose members did not grow taller than one meter. The islet of Flores, where the discovery was made, was immediately stormed by thousands of tourists wishing to witness the real "hobbits" with their own eyes. For a while, scientists believed they had just stumbled upon a teenage burial. However, a fully formed skeleton excluded this possibility. Until now, the scientific community still continues to discuss whether the tribe is a separate branch of humanity, or whether they were simply deformed by some kind of disease.
The latest information received allowed scientists to make a final conclusion. After examining the layers in the bones of the surviving skull and comparing it to modern humans, they concluded that the tiny hobbits have significant differences.
There was no sign that the Florientian people were suffering from an unknown disease. Researchers say that miniature creatures do not belong to the species Homo sapiens. However, the existing information is still not enough to understand whether it is worth classifying the Indonesian "hobbits" as a separate species.
Scientists tend to consider the same island, Flores, to be the birthplace of Flores. The remains have not been found anywhere else except in the only rock-cut grotto of Liang Bua.
Promotional video:
The strange remains were stumbled upon by a team of Australian geologist Michael Gagan. It happened almost by accident: Michael, deciding to go around the entire cave, discovered a narrow passage that led him to a new grotto.
Here the burials of the Floresian tribe were found. This tribe may well be the missing link connecting Homo erectus and his distant ancestors.