Hobbit saga ends with human connection
Ian Sample, science correspondent
Friday March 4, 2005
The Guardian
Scientists have confirmed that the diminutive creature dubbedthe hobbit discovered on the remote Indonesian island of Floreswas most likely a new species of human.Remains of the one metre-tall (3ft) creatures were found in acave on the island alongside some tools and evidence of a fire.One specimen, a female dubbed LB1, is thought to have lived18,000 years ago when the island was home to other bizarreanimals, including elephants the size of ponies, over-sized ratsand giant lizards that would dwarf the three metre-long Komododragons living there now.Scientists revealed the new species of human, named Homofloresiensis, last October but their claims were challenged bygroups that believed the skeletons were those of pygmy humans orthose of people with a rare skull-shrinking condition calledmicrocephalia.The first detailed study of the creature's brain, by Dean Falkat Florida State University, has shown that it was different toanything seen before."It's unique. It has advanced features that span the entirebrain, which suggest the original discoverers were quite correctthat this is a new species of human," she said.Professor Falk's team used a series of x-ray images to build upa 3D computer model of the surface of the creature's brain.Small-brained creatures in particular leave imprints of theirbrain on the inside of their skulls as they grow, revealingdetails of the size and position of various brain structures.The team also made a latex model of the brain.Analysis of the model brains suggested that while they weresimilar to those of the human ancestor Homo erectus, which diedout 400,000 years ago, they differed in several important ways.The frontal lobes above the eyes were enlarged, suggesting thecreature was capable of intelligent thought. "We know that inpeople, this region is important for planning ahead and takinginitiative," said Prof Falk.The brain also had fat temporal lobes, which would have aidedmemory, the processing of emotions and speech sounds, and helpedidentify objects. The models also showed that a crescent-shapedgroove, called the lunate focus, had been pushed toward the backof the head indicating that other parts of the brain hadexpanded, most probably those parts which glue togetherinformation from different senses."I never in my life expected to see such a small brain withthese kinds of features," said Prof Falk, whose study appearedin the journal Science Express yesterday. At just 417 cubiccentimetres, Homo floresiensis's brain is about the size of agrapefruit, or one-third the size of the average adult humanbrain.The unusual features of the brain suggest that the creature maywell have been advanced enough to make and use basic tools. "Iwas sceptical when I began the study, but there's nothing inwhat we've found that rules it out," said Prof Falk.Some experts believe the creatures were descended from a race of Homo erectus which reached Flores by sea and evolved into"hobbits" in response to limited food supplies on the island.Further discoveries of charred bones and stone tools on Floressuggest that creatures lived there from about 95,000 years agoto at least 13,000 years ago, although some say they cannot ruleout the fanciful possibility that the creatures still exist inthe impenetrable forests of south-east Asia.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1430229,00.html