Austin Mardon

Homo Floresiensis Austin Mardon

Somewhere between 10 000 and 100 000 years ago, a mysteriously small species of human roamed the Earth. Nicknamed the 'hobbits', these small humans (Homo floresiensis) were not so different from modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens). Like us, these humans walked on two legs. Moreover, Homo floresiensis constructed and used tools made of stone. Homo Floresiensis: Diving Deep into our Evolutionary Past is a collection of essays written by students of Canadian universities. These essays explore a diverse array of topics including the methods of fossil and genetic study, the ethics of fossil research as well as the anatomy of Homo floresiensis, especially as it compares to other human species such as Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. Since their discovery in Liang Bua cave in Flores, Indonesia, their existence has sparked numerous questions. Why were Homo floresiensis so small compared to other human species? Why does their brain evolution appear almost 'backwards' compared to other hominid species, with their crania becoming smaller rather than larger? Is Homo floresiensis a distinct human species or is it simply a pathological modern Homo sapiens? These questions and more will be explored throughout the course of Homo Floresiensis: Diving Deep into our Evolutionary Past.