Dean Falk, Santa Fe Institute
February 22, 2006
Scientists were shocked at the recent discovery of a miniature human species (LB 1, Homo floresiensis) that lived a mere 18,000 years ago on the Indonesian island of Flores. The most complete specimen is a three-foot tall woman, nicknamed 'Hobbit,' who had long arms, and a little ape-sized braincase. Associated archaeological evidence suggests that this tiny species fashioned sophisticated tools, hunted miniature elephants, made fire, and cooked. How could this be, given its tiny brain? To glean details about its brain, an international team analyzed three-dimensional computed tomographic (3DCT) reconstructions of Hobbit's internal braincase. Their findings have startling implications for the evolution of the brain and intelligence not just in hobbits, but throughout the human fossil record.
