Early hominins known colloquially as “hobbits” may have been shorter than scientists thought, a new analysis of teeth and bones has revealed.
The 700,000-year-old fossilized remains belonged to Homo floresiensis, an extinct species of exceedingly small humans that once inhabited Flores, an island south of mainland Indonesia, according to a study published Tuesday (Aug. 6) in the journal Nature Communications.
The new research may shed light on when H. floresiensis first evolved its diminutive height.
“Acquiring a large body and large brain and becoming clever is not necessarily our destiny,” lead author Yosuke Kaifu, a professor at the University Museum at the University of Tokyo, told Live Science in an email. “Depending on the natural environment, there were diverse ways of evolution not only for animals in general but also for humans.”
Article spoilers: previously believed to be 1m/3.2ft average height, adjusted down 2.4 inches - just under 3 feet average.
"Acquiring a large body and large brain and becoming clever is not necessarily our destiny,”
I would bet good money that they were just as smart and clever as other humans of their time. It isn’t like shorter people are less intelligent than taller people.
It would be so cool if humans were like 50% our current size. Same proportions and whatnot, just smaller everything.
Could make farmland and resources go so much further. So many less trees to build a house, or space to build a neighbourhood and road network.
In other (fake) news, dragons existed and drinking a cup of motor oil a day is actually good for you!
