floresiensis

Homo floresiensis, commonly referred to as floresiensis or the Flores Hobbit, is an extinct species of small-bodied hominins discovered on the island of Flores, Indonesia. The species was described in 2004 from skeletal remains unearthed in Liang Bua Cave during fieldwork that began in 2003 by Indonesian and Australian researchers. The specific epithet floresiensis derives from Flores, the island where the fossils were found.

The best-known specimen, LB1, is interpreted as an adult female. Adults are estimated to have stood about 1 meter tall, with a brain size of roughly 380 cm³. The skeleton shows a blend of primitive and derived features: relatively short limbs and a pelvis and shoulder girdle that differ from modern humans, yet some aspects of skull and dental anatomy align with the Homo lineage. The combination of a small body and certain retained primitive traits has made the species a subject of considerable interest and debate.

Dating and material culture place H. floresiensis in a challenging temporal window. Remains and associated stone tools at Liang Bua are generally dated to roughly 100,000 to 60,000 years ago, with most estimates clustering toward the later end of that range. The tools are simple flake-based technologies, and evidence of controlled use of fire is discussed but not unambiguously established.

Taxonomic status and phylogeny have been topics of debate since the discovery. H. floresiensis was initially proposed as a distinct species, though some researchers argued that the remains could reflect a modern human with pathology. While many analyses support a separate species, its precise relationship to other members of the Homo lineage remains unresolved, with proposals ranging from close affinity to Homo erectus to more distant links within Homo.

The Flores lineage appears to have disappeared around 50,000–60,000 years ago. Causes may include volcanic activity, climate change, and competition with expanding modern human populations. The discovery of floresiensis has had a lasting impact on understandings of human evolution, island dwarfism, and the historical diversity of hominin life.