University of Iowa Professor Russell Ciochon was a source for several science news outlets recently, commenting on two papers published in Nature.
The first paper describes the discovery of a H. floresiensis-like jaw and teeth from Mata Menge. Mata Menge is on Flores and near the original hobbit site of Liang Bua, however it is significantly older, 700,000 years ago.
The second paper provides more details on how these fossils were dated as well as the stone tools and fauna associated with the site. The discovery of these Homo floresiensis-like fossils proves that H. floresiensis is a dwarf form of Homo erectus that evolved on the island and not a modern human that was affected by some pathology.
The original Nature papers:
- Homo floresiensis-like fossils from the early Middle Pleistocene of Flores
- Age and context of the oldest known hominin fossils from Flores
News articles quoting Ciochon:
- Science: Tiny jaw reveals dawn of the hobbit
- USA Today: Holy Frodo! Hobbits really did walk the Earth, scientists say
- Christian Science Monitor: Who were the real-life 'hobbits'? 700,000-year-old fossils hold clues
Ciochon is a professor in the Department of Anthropology, part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.