New Study Suggests Hobbit Ancestors Were Even Shorter

This photo provided by Gerrit van den Bergh shows the Mata Menge excavation site on the Indonesia island of Flores on Sept. 9, 2019. Researchers uncovered fossils at the site that suggest ancestors of

Twenty years ago, scientists unearthed fossils of an early human species on an Indonesian island, affectionately dubbed 'hobbits' due to their diminutive stature of about 3 1/2 feet tall. A recent study has shed light on the ancestors of these hobbits, suggesting that they were even shorter in stature.

The original hobbit fossils, dating back 60,000 to 100,000 years, were discovered at a site called Mata Menge, located approximately 45 miles from the initial hobbit remains. The new findings, based on analysis of jawbone, teeth, and a tiny arm bone fragment, indicate that the ancestors were approximately 2.4 inches shorter and lived 700,000 years ago.

Evolutionary anthropologists have been intrigued by the origins of the hobbits, formally known as Homo floresiensis, and their place in the human evolutionary timeline. The debate continues on whether the hobbits descended from taller human species like Homo erectus or an even more primitive predecessor.

Original hobbit fossils found at Mata Menge, 60,000-100,000 years old.

Hobbits were 3 1/2 feet tall, with ancestors even shorter.

New findings based on jawbone, teeth, and arm bone fragment.

Ancestors lived 700,000 years ago, 2.4 inches shorter than hobbits.

Further research and additional fossils are deemed necessary to definitively place the hobbits within the context of human evolution. The quest to unravel the mystery of the hobbits' origins remains a focal point for anthropologists and researchers in the field.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, marks a significant step in understanding the evolutionary journey of these fascinating early human species.