The real significance of Hobbits: Hominid Biogeography in South East Asia

In 2004 Professor Mike Morwood led the team that found the skeleton of a previously undiscovered human species on the island of Flores. The ‘Hobbit’ skeleton was of a much smaller stature than present day humans, being that of an adult who was only one metre in height. Evidence suggests that these 'Hobbits' may have lived from 95,000 to 13,000 years ago and were probably descendants of the Homo erectus population that had evolved in isolation on Flores. It is believed that the 'Hobbits' may have still been in existence when the 16th century Dutch traders arrived at the island. This discovery has raised questions about the nature of human of evolution.

The discovery of an endemic species of human on Flores was unexpected, but no more so than finding evidence of Homins on the islands from 880,000 years ago. This lecture will explain why the 2004 discovery was not wholly unexpected with reference to the faunal biogeography of South East Asia. It will conclude with some of the implications for early hominin and modern human dispersal mechanisms, and for the future archaeological research in the region.

Time: 7:00PM

Location: Darlington Centre, Lecture Room 1

Cost: Free, visitors are welcome.

Contact: Liz de Rome

Phone: (02) 9036 5282

Email: 365a2350033d17480d23204f5469520a4d6d571b46

More info: http://www.nsw.royalsoc.org.au