The famous skeleton from Indonesia nicknamed the "Hobbit" does not belong to a modern human pygmy with a brain disease, as some scientists argue.
That is one of the main outcomes of a detailed examination of the creature's braincase, published in Science.
The authors say their study of the Hobbit's brain supports the idea it is a new, dwarf species of human.
However, others contend the report does little to quash their theory it was actually a small, diseased person.
The remains of the small hominid from the Indonesian island of Flores were unveiled last year to worldwide acclaim.
The 18,000-year-old bones were unearthed at a site called Liang Bua, one of numerous limestone caves on Flores, and were designated LB1 and assigned to a human species new to science: Homo floresiensis.
In our opinion, LB1 is not in any way, shape or form, a true microcephalic
Dean Falk, Florida State University
But the skeleton of this tiny female with a brain no larger than a chimpanzee's soon became mired in controversy.
Several prominent researchers - including the Indonesian palaeoanthropologist Teuku Jacob - argued that the remains were really those of a modern human (Homo sapiens), probably a pygmy with the brain defect known as microcephaly.
Microcephaly is a pathological condition characterised by an abnormally small head and brain and usually associated with mental difficulties.
The whole article.
...
That is one of the main outcomes of a detailed examination of the creature's braincase, published in Science.
The authors say their study of the Hobbit's brain supports the idea it is a new, dwarf species of human.
However, others contend the report does little to quash their theory it was actually a small, diseased person.
The remains of the small hominid from the Indonesian island of Flores were unveiled last year to worldwide acclaim.
The 18,000-year-old bones were unearthed at a site called Liang Bua, one of numerous limestone caves on Flores, and were designated LB1 and assigned to a human species new to science: Homo floresiensis.
In our opinion, LB1 is not in any way, shape or form, a true microcephalic
Dean Falk, Florida State University
But the skeleton of this tiny female with a brain no larger than a chimpanzee's soon became mired in controversy.
Several prominent researchers - including the Indonesian palaeoanthropologist Teuku Jacob - argued that the remains were really those of a modern human (Homo sapiens), probably a pygmy with the brain defect known as microcephaly.
Microcephaly is a pathological condition characterised by an abnormally small head and brain and usually associated with mental difficulties.
The whole article.
...
