New research suggests modern humans may not be behind Indonesia’s ‘hobbits’ extinction

According to a recent study by archaeologists, it has been found that the early humans, who occupied the Indonesian island of Flores, were obliterated by climate change.

The study was published in the journal Communications Earth& Environment.

Homo floresiensis, dubbed the “hobbits” for their short stature, were first unveiled in 2003 at the Liang Bua cave site on Flores.

The small-brained species, just about 3.5ft tall, likely lived on the island as recently as 50,000 years ago, but then disappeared without a trace.

Meanwhile, previous research suggested their departure corresponded with the arrival of modern humans in Southeast Asia and Australia.

An international team of archaeologists has revealed key evidence stimulating the existing theory, finding that the hobbits were likely consumed by a severe drought on their island.

The research study further suggests that hobbits abandoned the Liang Bua cave, which they had occupied for around 140,000 years, during a prolonged drought for thousands of years.

In this connection, researchers have scrutinized mineral formations called stalagmites as well as fossil teeth from a pygmy elephant species the hobbits hunted.

The analysis further demonstrated that a prolonged absence of precipitation beginning about 76,000 years ago led to a severe drought, ultimately affecting the island between 61,000 and 55,000 years ago.

The study concludes that this long drought and contention for supplies forced their departure from Liang Bua, and finally, their extinction.

In this regard, Mike Gagan, the lead author of the study said, “summer rainfall fell and riverbeds became seasonally dry, placing stress on both hobbits and their prey.”

Nonetheless, the findings underscore how environmental conditions can determine the process by which species continue to exist or not, and it is possible as the hobbits moved in search of water and prey, they ran into contemporary humans. In essence, climate change has a crucial role in their extinction.