Thursday, October 3, 2024
Contact    |    RSS icon Twitter icon Facebook icon  
Unexplained Mysteries
You are viewing: Home > News > Palaeontology > News story
Welcome Guest ( Login or Register )  
All ▾
Search Submit

Palaeontology

Is an ancient human ancestor hiding in Indonesia ?

By T.K. Randall
April 28, 2022 · Comment icon 39 comments

The cave where the fossil remains were originally found. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 2.0 Rosino / Flickr
A controversial new book claims that the hobbit-like Homo floresiensis may not have actually gone extinct.
Evidence of the mysterious 'hobbits' of Flores, an island in Indonesia, was first unearthed in a cave back in 2003 - a discovery that would go on to become the topic of much controversy and debate.

Named Homo floresiensis, these pint-sized hominids are now believed to be a previously undiscovered species of human which died out somewhere around 60,000 years ago, however not everyone is convinced.

According to retired anthropologist Gregory Forth of the University of Alberta, these real-life hobbits may not have gone extinct at all and could still be living on the island of Flores today.

In particular, he cites reports of "ape-man" sightings from people on the island as potential evidence that these long-lost human ancestors may still be thriving there.

"We simply don't know when this species became extinct or indeed dare I say - I did dare say - we don't even know if it is extinct," he told Live Science.
"So there is some possibility that it is still alive."

Not everyone in the scientific community agrees with his theory, however.

Some, like paleoanthropologist John Hawks, have emphasized the fact that the island has a population of some two million people.

The idea that an entire community of prehistoric hominids could continue to survive there undiscovered, therefore, seems far-fetched to say the least.

"Realistically, the idea that there's a large primate that is unobserved on this island and surviving in a population that can sustain itself is pretty close to zero," he said.

Source: Live Science | Comments (39)




Other news and articles
Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #30 Posted by Earl.Of.Trumps 2 years ago
I'll tell ya what, it's got the "They saw a bear" for BigFoot story beat all to heck
Comment icon #31 Posted by Earl.Of.Trumps 2 years ago
Good vid, DC. I have read that Orang Pendek, when confronted, will put its hands behind its ears, fingers splayed, and wave them, so as to make it look bigger and scarier.
Comment icon #32 Posted by Hyperionxvii 2 years ago
I'm pretty sure that all these sightings of Hominins as well as Bigfoot are actually my ex-sister in law. 
Comment icon #33 Posted by locomekipkachelfantje 2 years ago
I read a wiki about the Siamang just now, and I think that's the one.
Comment icon #34 Posted by Harte 2 years ago
Harte
Comment icon #35 Posted by Manwon Lender 2 years ago
Breaking news first photo of the new Hominid Species, and it appears while different he is just a regular guy his name is Dick! 
Comment icon #36 Posted by onlookerofmayhem 2 years ago
Comment icon #37 Posted by Manwon Lender 2 years ago
Hey I wonder if the guys in the pictures we posted could be related!
Comment icon #38 Posted by onlookerofmayhem 2 years ago
I think the may be The Brothers Scrot and Sak.
Comment icon #39 Posted by Manwon Lender 2 years ago
That certainly seems possible!


Please Login or Register to post a comment.


Our new book is out now!
Book cover

The Unexplained Mysteries
Book of Weird News

 AVAILABLE NOW 

Take a walk on the weird side with this compilation of some of the weirdest stories ever to grace the pages of a newspaper.

Click here to learn more

We need your help!
Patreon logo

Support us on Patreon

 BONUS CONTENT 

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can gain access to a wide range of exclusive perks including our popular 'Lost Ghost Stories' series.

Click here to learn more

Recent news and articles