Humans, and 'hobbits' existed together: study

[TRUEYOUTRUEME]

In 2003, archaeologists excavating in a cave on the Indonesian island of Flores made a discovery that forced scientists to completely rethink conventional theories of human evolution.

They reported the discovery of a new species of human, one that lived as recently as 12,000 years ago, at the same time as modern humans.

But others disagreed, arguing the one-metre-high skeleton was a modern human that suffered from a deformity known as microcephaly.

The debate has raged ever since.

Read more...

Is it possible that many stories of ancient mythical creatures may in fact be true?

We are certainly headed towards a possible future age whereas through genetic science many of the creatures of ancient lure can become a reality. Maybe they already were in some far off distant age where science ruled the day.

[Leonardo]

Is it possible that many stories of ancient mythical creatures may in fact be true?

It is unlikely.

Homo floresiensis has only been discovered in fossil record on Flores Island, making the myth of 'little people' in various other widespread cultures throughout the world very unlikely to be based on their [H. flor] existence.

There is no evidence for a world-wide existence of diminutive species of humans such as H. floresiensis elsewhere in the world, although certainly pygmy people are known in other locales. However, these pygmy peoples are entirely H. sap. sapiens (modern humans).

Ancient myth must, it seems at least for the moment, remain myth.

[:PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR:]

Ancient myth must, it seems at least for the moment, remain myth.

It is also well known that many historical facts have been glorified, typically to boost one's reputation to legendary status. The Song of Roland is a prime example. Slicing completely in half, not only the soldier, but the entire horse he rode on too, now that's amazing! LOL!

[WoIverine]

Well, least one of these little b******* managed to cast the one ring back into Mt. Doom, otherwise things would REALLY suck.

Edited August 4, 2009 by SpIdErCyDe

[Torgo]

Having just read a recent book by Donald Johansen, a prominent archaeologist who was the discoverer of Lucy and who keeps up with the field, I can say these people whoever they were are fascinating. They have an odd blend of modern, Homo erectus, and australopithicene features. Some scientists think they are one of the spawn of Homo erectus, as we seem to be, others think there may be some possibility that they were the results of an australopithicene lineage other than our own. We have no evidence thus far of australopithecenes out of Africa... but there is the possibility that it simply was not discovered yet, Homo habilis was just discovered in Eurasia for the first time a few years ago as well. More research and evidence is required before we can know their exact relation to us.

[:PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR:]

Well, least one of these little b******* managed to cast the one ring back into Mt. Doom, otherwise things would REALLY suck.

Noo! Not my Preeccccccccciouuuussssssssss!

[Abramelin]

I think I know why the hobbits died out..

They were the victims of an ancient sport: dwarf tossing. But in those good ol' days they didn't use protective clothing.

[behaviour???]

And why are their fossil specific on one place??

Thanks

B???

[behaviour???]

And why are their fossil specific on one place??

Thanks

B???

[aquatus1]

Probably because hobbits weren't good swimmers?

[behaviour???]

Probably because hobbits weren't good swimmers?

I wouldn't believe that because then land were not only covered by sea but some part of it was connected by land

thanks

B???

[aquatus1]

I wouldn't believe that because then land were not only covered by sea but some part of it was connected by land

thanks

B???

Unless you have some information that I am not aware of, pretty much everything about the Hobbit's island indicates that it has always been an island. Heck, even the elephants shrunk.

[SQLserver]

And why are their fossil specific on one place??

Quite simply, this was a small endemic population that never really spread anywhere, and thus became very genetically different until it finally died out.

[TRUEYOUTRUEME]

It is unlikely.

Homo floresiensis has only been discovered in fossil record on Flores Island, making the myth of 'little people' in various other widespread cultures throughout the world very unlikely to be based on their [H. flor] existence.

There is no evidence for a world-wide existence of diminutive species of humans such as H. floresiensis elsewhere in the world, although certainly pygmy people are known in other locales. However, these pygmy peoples are entirely H. sap. sapiens (modern humans).

Ancient myth must, it seems at least for the moment, remain myth.

I would agree that for the moment that ancient myth must remain just that.. ancient myth. And yes the dominant argument today would still be that it is unlikely that ancient myth was actually based upon reality. But....

You figure this creature is already dated as being at least 12,000 yrs old. There are some who believe that evidence points to a sort of earth changing event happening sometime in that period of time. Many believe that the most miraculous of the ancient monomunents were created before this time frame as well. Of course you have the continent of Mu or Atlantis or other alternative theories that a very advanced cilivilization existed on the earth at this time.

Today we are heading towards the technology whereas many of the creatures spoke of in myth may be possible to create through genetic engineering and science.

Possibly this technology already existed here on earth long, long ago. Maybe this is a creature such as a hobbit that lived in a magical time full of amazing science.

Of course I know that the science of Palaeontology does not offer very much evidence to support that but this discovery at least seems to give a speck of something to entertain the idea.

Just an idea. I am not really looking to debate it.

[Myles]

Is all this speculation from one specimen found?

[aquatus1]

It's what they've deduced from the multiple specimens found.

[behaviour???]

Unless you have some information that I am not aware of, pretty much everything about the Hobbit's island indicates that it has always been an island. Heck, even the elephants shrunk.

The existence of the super continent called Pangea?

Thanks

B???

[aquatus1]

The existence of the super continent called Pangea?

Thanks

B???

You are aware that Pangea existed about 60 million years ago? With the dinosaurs?

The big deal about the Hobbit is that it lived in the same time period as man.

[Abramelin]

The big deal about the Hobbit is that it lived in the same time period as man.

Not only that, but.....

If this is confirmed by new discoveries and further analysis, it could imply that hobbits should be classified as australopithecines (i.e. Australopithecus floresiensis) rather than as part of the genus Homo, since they lack a key attribute (known as a shared derived character) that distinguishes the latter. This interpretation would appear to be consistent with other anatomical characteristics, such as the shape of certain wrist bones, which resemble those of the australopithecines.

Such a reclassification of the hobbits (i.e. to Australopithecus) would, if anything, be even more amazing than the current attribution to Homo. It would mean that the genetic separation between the lineage that led to the hobbits on the one hand, and to all members of the genus Homo on the other, including H. erectus, H. neanderthalensis, and H. sapiens, took place more than two million years ago.

Furthermore, if australopithecine descendants, presumably originating in Africa, made their way to Indonesia and survived for hundreds of thousands of years, one can ask where else they migrated and how long they survived. The lack of reports of hobbit remains from other parts of the Old World suggests that paleoanthropologists may have not been looking in the right places, or that they have overlooked relevant data because it did not fit the pre-existing understanding of what hominins should look like at more recent times and places.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/may2009/hobb-m13.shtml

[aquatus1]

That's awesome!

The human branch is spreading wider!