The Extinction of Hobbits: Who Really Caused the Demise of the Inhabitants of Flores Island?

About 50,000 years ago, on the Indonesian island of Flores, a unique species of miniature humans known as Homo floresiensis, often referred to as "hobbit people," inhabited the area. Initially, researchers believed that these tiny hominins went extinct due to modern humans; however, recent studies suggest alternative reasons, as reported by IFLScience.

A new study, which has not yet undergone peer review, points to climate change as a likely cause of their extinction. Researchers claim that a decrease in rainfall significantly impacted the dwarf elephants known as stegodons, which Homo floresiensis largely depended on for sustenance.

These small elephants shared the island with the hobbits until climate change led to the drying up of their water sources, resulting in a catastrophic collapse for both species.

Researchers note that archaeological evidence of Homo floresiensis disappears approximately 4,000 years before Homo sapiens appeared on Flores, around 46,000 years ago.

To investigate the reasons for their disappearance, the team analyzed geological samples near Liang Bua, a key habitat for the hobbits, focusing on levels of magnesium, calcium, and oxygen isotopes. This allowed them to piece together the history of climate changes in the region.

Their findings indicate that around 76,000 years ago, precipitation levels on Flores were much higher and more stable.

Over the next 20,000 years, rainfall significantly decreased, while seasonal variability increased. By 50,000 years ago, the amount of rainfall during the summer monsoon dropped to 430 millimeters per year, leaving stegodons with limited access to water during dry seasons.

The researchers propose two possible scenarios. In one, the elephants remained near Liang Bua, vulnerable to water shortages and being hunted by Homo floresiensis, who lived around the water sources.

Alternatively, the elephants may have migrated to wetter coastal regions, where an unfamiliar environment would likely threaten their survival. If the hobbits followed their prey, they might have encountered new dangers and possibly even modern humans traveling along the coast toward Oceania.

While there is no reliable evidence of interactions between Homo sapiens and Homo floresiensis, researchers do not rule out the possibility of brief contact. This study illustrates the fragility of ecosystems and the profound impact of climate change on ancient species.

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