Hobbit-like creatures cause scientists to question evolution theories

Not just a fairy-tale from J.R.R. Rowling’s Lord of the Rings, last week more partial discoveries of miniature human-like creatures originally found last year on Flores Island off the coast of Indonesia, were revealed .According to cnn.com, a female jawbone discovered in the Liang Bua cave along with the remains of nine other individuals has baffled scientists and called into question several theories about evolution. Dubbed “hobbits” by the discovery team lead by Michael Morword of the University of New England, full-grown adults are believed to stand no higher than three feet tall when full grown and possess a brain approximately 25 cubic centimeters. In other words, these creatures had a brain roughly the size of a grapefruit. “It’s remarkable,” stated Dean Falk of Florida State University, who was part of the discovery team. “I thought we were looking at a chimpanzee skull, but this has advanced features that I’ve not seen in anything this size.”The additional discovery of tools and charcoal have lead scientists to believe that despite their small brain mass, “hobbits” possessed many of the skills that humans have today, including a mastery of fire, and hunting the other odd-sized animals found on the island.Apparently, the three-foot tall humans also had to contend with 12-foot long Komodo dragons, giant rodents, and full-grown miniature elephants that were approximately the size of a baby elephant today. Dwarf-sized skeletons of other types of native Indonesian animals have also been found. With so many dwarf animals found, the research team developed a theory known as the “island rule.” In an environment where there are limited resources and no natural predators, smaller animals grow larger and larger animals become smaller. Though further analysis and research will have to be done on findings, carbon dating has indicated that “hobbits” existed as early as 12,000 years ago, in conjunction with modern man, and existed for roughly 30,000 years. Traits believed to be possessed by the discovered individuals include long, dangling arms. This trait was previously thought confined to a remote section of pre-human species in Africa. The first “hobbit” discovery spurred debate about potential dwarfism defects in the biology of the individual. As further bones were discovered, with the latest jawbone dated roughly 3000 years apart from the original find, scientist concluded that dwarfism is not a possible solution. It is genetically impossible for the defect to span over 100 generations.According to washingtonpost.com, further debate is centered around the head and brain of the individuals, which have been the most intact when unearthed. Though dwarfism has been ruled out, a condition called microcephaly has been called into question. Microcephaly is a condition in which the head and brain are abnormally small. Many skeptics argue that the discovery in Liang Bua cave is of modern humans with this deformity.