Flores Humans Still Roaming, Two Experts Explain the Evidence

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Flores humans are thought to still exist and roam around. This has even become a matter of debate among anthropologists.

Homo floresiensis or often called the Flores man has hobbit-like characteristics in the fictional story The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. Because his body is short, only 106 cm, while other characteristics are a small brain, no chin, and flat feet.

It is believed to have become extinct tens of thousands of years ago. But the discovery in 2004 raised new questions.

A group of archaeologists found fragments or fossils believed to be Homo floresiensis in Liang Bua, a large cave on the Flores Islands. The fossils are believed to date back 12,000 years.

At that time, human civilization was believed to be quite modern. Humans can carry out gardening activities, raise livestock, raise animals and even have beliefs such as religion.

From these findings, differences of opinion emerged between anthropologists. After 18 years from the 2004 discovery, anthropologist Gregory Forth revealed that flores humans still existed after around 30 local residents of the Lio tribe testified to seeing the existence of Homo floresiensis.

Local residents call him half human, half ape. Forth believes that this creature refers to the remaining Homo floresiensis.

However, it turns out that Forth's words were denied by Smithsonian Institution researcher Matthew Tocheri. He doubted the hypothesis of the existence of dwarf humans.

“I won't spend time finding out where they are. They are definitely extinct,” he said, quoted from IFLScience, Thursday (29/2/2024).

He explained that a species can survive in the population if its numbers reach a certain number. However, if Flores humans were only seen by 30 local residents, Lio would be too small to survive among modern humans.

Tocheri's statement was also approved by a Flinders University scientist named Corey Bradshaw. “By basic calculations, 50 effective individuals are needed to avoid extinction of a species. This is equivalent to a population of 250 to 500 individuals,” Bradshaw said.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(fab/fab)