What Happened to Flores’ Ancient Humans?
Until recently, scientists believed that Homo floresiensis, a species of dwarf humans that lived on the island of Flores, was driven to extinction by modern humans. But new research suggests a different cause for the collapse.
Around 50,000 years ago, the Indonesian island of Flores was home to a unique species of tiny humans, Homo floresiensis , often referred to as “hobbit humans.”
Researchers initially believed that these tiny hominids were driven to extinction by modern humans, but recent research points to other causes, IFLScience reports.
A new study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, points to climate change as a likely cause of their demise. The researchers say that decreased rainfall significantly affected the dwarf elephants known as stegodons, which Homo floresiensis relied heavily on for its diet.
These small elephants shared the island with the hobbits until climate change caused their water sources to dry up, causing a catastrophic collapse for both species.
The researchers note that archaeological evidence of Homo floresiensis disappears about 4,000 years before Homo sapiens arrived on Flores , about 46,000 years ago.
To investigate the reasons for their disappearance, the team analysed geological samples near Liang Bua, a key hobbit site, focusing on levels of magnesium, calcium and oxygen isotopes. This allowed them to piece together a history of climate change in the region.
Their findings show that about 76,000 years ago, rainfall on Flores was much higher and more stable.
Over the next 20,000 years, rainfall decreased significantly and seasonal variability increased. By 50,000 years ago, rainfall during the summer monsoon rains had dropped to 430 millimetres per year, leaving Stegodon with limited access to water during the dry seasons.
The researchers suggest two possible scenarios. In one, the elephants remained near Liang Bua, vulnerable to lack of water and persecution by Homo floresiensis , who lived around the waterholes.
Or the elephants may have migrated to wetter coastal regions, where unfamiliar environments would likely have threatened their survival. If the hobbits had followed their prey, they would have encountered new dangers and perhaps even modern humans who traveled along the coast on their way to Oceania.
Although there is no reliable evidence of interaction between Homo sapiens and Homo floresiensis , the researchers do not rule out the possibility of their brief contact. This study demonstrates the fragility of ecosystems and the profound impact of climate change on ancient species.
