Whispers

Whispers are starting to spread from the latest archaeological excavations and research on the island of Flores, Indonesia. Hominin specimens found on the island, dubbed Homo floresiensis, more affectionately referred to as the ‘hobbits’ were first reported in 2004. The archaeology of Flores is enigmatic for several reasons; one of the main concerns is that if dating is correct, the hobbits present an archaeological anomaly. If the Flores hominins did coexist for an extensive period after colonisation by modern humans, it would suggest that not all indigenous hominins were replaced by anatomically modern humans.
Coexistence with modern humans has been found in the archaeological record. Evidence from Neanderthals suggests a relatively short coexistence with modern humans, but archaeological research suggests that the Hobbits may have been extant for a far longer period than any other species.
There are also arguments against the assignment of the fossils to Homo floresiensis. Some suggest that the fossils may be diseased moderns or erectus specimens.
The latest whispers are that the new excavations have found evidence that would suggest beyond a doubt that the hominins are in fact a new species, forcing the academia to rethink our models of human evolution and the human story.



After the stories I’ve heard from the AAA conference this year…let the shit fight begin.