GC015 The Hobbits of Flores Island

Geek Counterpoint -- Your antidote to soundbite science!

In 2003 and 2004, a team of Australian and Indonesian anthropologists made some interesting discoveries in a cave on Indonesia's Flores island -- bones from small creatures, that may just prove to be cousins of humanity. Since these bones came from adults, but they apparently stood only about 3 feet tall, they were almost immediately christened "hobbits." These creatures seem to be more closely related to ancient hominids than to modern humans -- but were still alive 18,000 years ago, long after Neanderthal died out. While the initial fossil discovery was well publicized, more recent news hasn't been covered as thoroughly. Listen in, and I'll give you a summary of what's been found, and where things stand.