Man of Flores According to a new study, the abandoned Liang Bua – a cave that this small human species occupied for about 140,000 years – was abandoned during a severe drought between 61,000 and 55,000 years ago.
Reconstruction Man of Flores. Image credit: Elizabeth Danes.
Man of Flores It was first discovered in 2003 in Liang Bua on the Indonesian island of Flores.
The species, nicknamed “the hobbit” because of its tiny stature, has challenged prevailing theories of human evolution.
It disappeared from the fossil record about 50,000 years ago, but its fate remains a mystery.
“In 2003, during excavations at the Liang Bua rock shelter, the skeletal remains of a previously unknown species of small-bodied hominin were discovered. Man of Flores” said University of Wollongong Emeritus Professor Mike Gagan and his colleagues.
” Man of Flores The occupation interval was originally dated to 95,000–12,000 years ago, raising the possibility of interaction with early modern humans (wise man) on the islands of Southeast Asia, which could lead to the extinction of this species.”
“However, after reviewing the stratigraphy and chronology of the site, all Man of Flores the skeletal remains date back to approximately 100,000–60,000 years ago.”
“The associated lithic artifact records and assemblages of large fauna commonly found with Man of Flores will end approximately 50,000 years ago.”
“The corrections show that their disappearance from the record preceded the arrival of modern humans at Liang Bua about 46,000 years ago, which marked a marked shift in the collection of raw materials for making stone tools.”
In the study, the authors combined chemical data from cave stalagmites with isotopic data from fossil teeth of a pygmy elephant species (Stegodon florensis insula) What Man of Flores hunted.
The results show a broad drying trend that began around 76,000 years ago and culminated in severe drought between 61,000 and 55,000 years ago, around the time the hominin species became extinct.
Prolonged drought and competition for resources may have led to their departure from Liang Bua and their eventual extinction.
“The ecosystem around Liang Bua became significantly drier at this time. Man of Flores disappeared,” said University of Wollongong Emeritus Professor Mike Gagan, lead author of the study.
“Summer rainfall has fallen and river beds have become seasonally dry, creating stress for both the hobbits and their prey.”
The population of pygmy elephants declined sharply around 61,000 years ago, which meant that an important food source for hobbits was disappearing.
“Surface fresh waters, Stegodon And Man of Flores they all decline at the same time, indicating the compounding effect of environmental stress,” said Dr Geert van den Berg from the University of Wollongong.
“Competition for dwindling water and food probably drove the hobbits to leave Liang Bua.”
“Bye Man of Flores fossils predate the earliest evidence of modern humans on Flores, wise man were crossing the Indonesian archipelago around the time the hobbits disappeared.”
“It is possible that as the hobbits moved in search of water and prey, they encountered modern humans,” Professor Gagan said.
“In this sense, climate change may have paved the way for their eventual extinction.”
study was published in the magazine Connection Earth and environment.
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MK Gagan etc.. 2025. Onset of summer dryness and decline Man of Flores in Liang Bua 61,000 years ago. Commune Earth Environment 6, 992; two: 10.1038/s43247-025-02961-3
