While JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit was a figment of imagination, new research suggests that 'hobbits' may have much more in common with humans than first thought. New research even suggests that these are our ancestors.
Researchers at an Australian university have come to the conclusion that it is about 112 cm tall Homo floresiensis (which is the scientific name for 'hobbits') had more in common with Homo habilisom, the oldest human ancestors, than Homo erectus, which evolved from Homo habilis.
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To come to this conclusion, the researchers traveled the world and collected more than 100 samples of ancient and modern human bones, making their research one of the most comprehensive of its kind to date. After examination and statistical analysis, it was found that the bone structure Homo erectus and Homo floresiensis differentiated in many key features, especially in the jaw and pelvis.
The researchers thus came to the conclusion that they do so Homo floresiensis and Homo habilis developed from a common ancestor in Africa and yes it is Homo floresiensis much older than Homo erectus.
Homo floresiensis it might be migrated from another continent, which could be the reason a team of researchers discovered 'hobbit' bones on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003.
Source:
eurekalert.org
