Archaeology and age of a new hominin from Flores, in eastern Indonesia

Authors

Michael J. Morwood, University of WollongongFollow
R P. Soejono, Indonesian Centre for Archaeology
Richard G. Roberts, University of WollongongFollow
T. Sutikna, Indonesian Centre for Archaeology
Christian S. Turney, University of WollongongFollow
Kira E. Westaway, University of WollongongFollow
W J. Rink, McMaster University
Jian-xin Zhao, University Of Queensland
Gerrit D. Van Den Bergh, University of WollongongFollow
Rokhus Awe Due, National Research and Development Centre for Archaeology, Indonesia
Douglas Hobbs, University of New EnglandFollow
M W. Moore, University of New England
M Bird, University of St AndrewsFollow
L K. Fifield, Australian National University

RIS ID

11512

Publication Details

Morwood, M. J., Soejono, R. P., Roberts, R. G., Sutikna, T., Turney, C. S., Westaway, K. E., Rink, W. J., Zhao, J., Van Den Bergh, G. D., Awe Due, R., Hobbs, D., Moore, M. W., Bird, M. & Fifield, L. K. (2004). Archaeology and age of a new hominin from Flores in eastern Indonesia. Nature, 431 1087-1091.

Abstract

Excavations at Liang Bua, a large limestone cave on the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia, have yielded evidence for a population of tiny hominins, sufficiently distinct anatomically to be assigned to a new species, Homo floresiensis¹. The finds comprise the cranial and some post-cranial remains of one individual, as well as a premolar from another individual in older deposits. Here we describe their context, implications and the remaining archaeological uncertainties. Dating by radiocarbon (¹⁴C), luminescence, uranium-series and electron spin resonance (ESR) methods indicates that H. floresiensis existed from before 38,000 years ago (kyr) until at least 18 kyr. Associated deposits contain stone artefacts and animal remains, including Komodo dragon and an endemic, dwarfed species of Stegodon. H. floresiensis originated from an early dispersal of Homo erectus (including specimens referred to as Homo ergaster and Homo georgicus)¹ that reached Flores, and then survived on this island refuge until relatively recently. It overlapped significantly in time with Homo sapiens in the region^{2, 3}, but we do not know if or how the two species interacted.