NEW SPECIES of Human "Hobbits" Discovered (Season 3) | The UnXplained

HISTORY

14 Aug 202207:08

Summary

TLDRIn 2003, archeologists in Flores, Indonesia, discovered the remains of Homo floresiensis, a miniature human species standing less than 4 feet tall that lived 60,000 years ago. Dubbed 'the hobbit,' this species challenges our understanding of early hominin capabilities, suggesting they were more adept at traversing oceans than previously thought. The script also hints at the existence of a giant human species, the Denisovans, found in Siberia, indicating a diverse human family tree with potential undiscovered branches.

Takeaways

🗺️ In 2003, archeologists in Flores, Indonesia, discovered the skeletal remains of a previously unknown species of miniature humans, Homo floresiensis, in the Liang Bua Cave.
🦿 The partial skeleton, known as LB1, was of an adult less than 4 feet tall, with short stature not due to deformity.
🔬 Genetic analysis confirmed Homo floresiensis as a distinct species within the Homo genus, closely related to but smaller than modern humans.
🌊 The discovery on an oceanic island challenged the belief that only modern humans were capable of crossing open water to reach such islands.
🛠️ Tools found on the Isle of Flores suggest a level of sophistication and capability in Homo floresiensis that was previously unattributed to early hominins.
🗓️ Homo floresiensis is believed to have disappeared around 50,000 years ago, with evidence from only one cave site.
🧬 The nickname 'hobbits' for Homo floresiensis came from their small stature, drawing parallels to JRR Tolkien's fictional characters.
🧐 The existence of Homo floresiensis suggests that there may be other undiscovered branches of the human family tree.
🏔️ In Siberia's Altai Mountains, archeologists found massive human teeth suggesting the existence of a human subspecies, the Denisovans, possibly 7-8 feet tall.
🦴 The Denisovans are supported by evidence from Siberia and the Tibetan Plateau, indicating the possibility of ancient giants walking the Earth.
🌐 Legends of extraordinarily large beings across cultures might have been inspired by encounters with or discoveries of Denisovan remains.

Q & A

In what year were the skeletal remains of Homo floresiensis discovered?
-The skeletal remains of Homo floresiensis were discovered in 2003.
Where were the remains of Homo floresiensis found?
-The remains were found in the Liang Bua Cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia.
What was unique about the stature of the Homo floresiensis individual found?
-The individual was remarkably short for an adult, standing less than 4 feet tall, and this was not due to deformity.
What is the scientific name given to the species of miniature humans discovered on Flores?
-The species was named Homo floresiensis, after the Isle of Flores where it was discovered.
How did the discovery of Homo floresiensis challenge previous beliefs about early hominins?
-The discovery challenged the belief that only modern humans were capable of reaching oceanic islands by crossing open water, indicating that earlier hominins had greater dispersal capabilities.
What nickname was given to Homo floresiensis by some anthropologists?
-Homo floresiensis was nicknamed 'the hobbits' due to their small stature, in reference to the characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's book 'The Hobbit'.
When did Homo floresiensis disappear according to the evidence found?
-Homo floresiensis disappeared roughly around 50,000 years ago, based on the evidence from the Liang Bua Cave.
What was the significance of the tools found on the Isle of Flores?
-The tools found suggest that Homo floresiensis had a level of sophistication and the ability to craft tools, which raises questions about their cognitive abilities and lifestyle.
What other evidence besides the teeth was used to identify the Denisovans?
-Besides the teeth, evidence of the Denisovans includes a huge jawbone found on the Tibetan Plateau, suggesting the existence of a human subspecies with massive skulls and jaws.
What does the discovery of the Denisovans suggest about the diversity of human relatives?
-The discovery of the Denisovans suggests that there may have been a greater diversity of human relatives, including possible 'giant' species, than previously thought.
How do legends of extraordinarily large beings relate to the discovery of the Denisovans?
-Legends of extraordinarily large beings, like giants in European folklore, could potentially be related to ancient encounters with or discoveries of Denisovans, who were much larger than modern humans.

Outlines

00:00

🗺️ Discovery of Homo floresiensis in Indonesia

In 2003, archeologists in Flores, Indonesia, unearthed the skeletal remains of a previously unknown species of miniature humans, Homo floresiensis, within the Liang Bua Cave. The partial skeleton, known as LB1, indicated an adult height of less than 4 feet, and genetic analysis confirmed the individual's short stature was not due to deformity. This discovery was significant as it suggested that early hominins had greater dispersal capabilities than previously thought, challenging the belief that only modern humans could have reached such isolated islands. The nickname 'hobbits' was inspired by the size and the Middle-earth creatures from J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 book, 'The Hobbit'. The disappearance of Homo floresiensis around 50,000 years ago remains a mystery, with only evidence from the Liang Bua Cave available for study.

05:03

🦴 Unearthing the Denisovans: Ancient Giants of Siberia

Archeologists in the Altai Mountains, Siberia, made an unexpected discovery of two enormous human teeth, twice the size of modern humans, suggesting the existence of a human cousin, potentially 7-8 feet tall with massive skulls and jaws. The teeth were dated to be over 50,000 years old and belonged to a subspecies named the Denisovans. Evidence from the Denisova cave and a jawbone found on the Tibetan Plateau points to the historical presence of giants on Earth. The possibility that these ancient beings could be the source of folklore featuring giants is discussed, with experts suggesting that ancient humans might have encountered or discovered remnants of Denisovans, leading to the perpetuation of such legends. The narrative emphasizes the ongoing exploration of the human family tree and the potential for discovering other hidden branches of humanity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Flores

Flores is an island in Indonesia where the skeletal remains of a previously unknown species of miniature humans were discovered. The island plays a central role in the video's narrative as the discovery site of Homo floresiensis, which challenges our understanding of human evolution and the dispersal capabilities of early hominins. The name is used to name the species discovered there, highlighting its significance in the study of human relatives.

💡Homo floresiensis

Homo floresiensis is a species of miniature humans that lived around 60,000 years ago, as revealed by the script. The term is derived from the island of Flores where the remains were found. The discovery of Homo floresiensis is pivotal to the video's theme, as it suggests the existence of multiple human-like species with different physical characteristics, thus expanding the known human family tree.

💡Liang Bua Cave

The Liang Bua Cave is the specific location within Flores where the remains of Homo floresiensis were excavated. It is a 'dark recess' that yielded significant archaeological findings, contributing to the video's exploration of how our ancestors might have been more capable and widespread than previously thought.

💡Archeologists

Archeologists are the scientists who conducted the excavations in the Liang Bua Cave. Their work led to the discovery of Homo floresiensis, which is a key event in the video. The term represents the professionals who study human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

💡Homo

Homo refers to the genus that includes modern humans (Homo sapiens) and several extinct species of human-like beings. In the video, Homo floresiensis is identified as a member of this genus due to shared characteristics like teeth and jaw structure. The term is crucial for understanding the taxonomic relationship between different human species.

💡Denisovans

The Denisovans are a previously unknown human subspecies mentioned in the script, known from their massive teeth found in the Altai Mountains, Siberia. The term is significant as it represents another example of human diversity in the past, suggesting that there might have been a branch of giants in the human family tree.

💡Hobbit

The term 'hobbit' is used colloquially in the video to refer to Homo floresiensis due to their small stature, drawing a parallel with the fictional characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit.' This nickname helps to popularize the scientific findings and makes the concept more accessible to the general public, while also sparking curiosity about the potential for other undiscovered human relatives.

💡Skeletal remains

Skeletal remains are the physical evidence of past life forms, specifically the bones and other hard tissues that remain after the death of an organism. In the video, the discovery of the skeletal remains of Homo floresiensis in the Liang Bua Cave is a critical piece of evidence that has reshaped our understanding of human evolution.

💡Genetic analysis

Genetic analysis is a scientific method used to study the genetic material of organisms, which in the video is applied to the remains found in Flores to determine the species' characteristics and relationships. This analysis revealed that Homo floresiensis was not a deformity but a distinct species, contributing to the video's narrative about the complexity of human evolution.

💡Extinction

Extinction refers to the state of a species or group of species that no longer exists in the present day. The video discusses the disappearance of Homo floresiensis around 50,000 years ago, which is a central mystery. The term is relevant to the video's exploration of the reasons behind the extinction of various human species and the implications for our understanding of human history.

💡Dispersal capabilities

Dispersal capabilities refer to the ability of a species to spread and colonize new areas. The video suggests that the presence of Homo floresiensis on an oceanic island indicates that early hominins had greater dispersal capabilities than previously thought, challenging the notion that only modern humans could have reached such islands.

Highlights

Archeologists discovered the skeletal remains of a primitive human in the Liang Bua Cave, Flores, Indonesia in 2003.

The remains belonged to an adult less than 4 feet tall, with short stature not due to deformity.

The individual was identified as a member of a previously unknown species of miniature humans, living 60,000 years ago.

The partial skeleton, known as LB1 or Liang Bua 1, was a significant discovery in the field of anthropology.

Homo floresiensis was named after the Isle of Flores, where the remains were found.

Homo floresiensis had characteristics of teeth and jaws similar to our genus Homo, indicating a close relation.

The discovery challenges the belief that only modern humans could reach oceanic islands.

The presence of Homo floresiensis on Flores suggests earlier hominins had greater dispersal capabilities than previously thought.

The discovery of tools on the Isle of Flores raises questions about the origin and sophistication of Homo floresiensis.

Homo floresiensis disappeared around 50,000 years ago, with evidence found only in one cave.

The nickname 'hobbits' for Homo floresiensis came from their small stature, similar to JRR Tolkien's fictional characters.

The existence of Homo floresiensis suggests that there were multiple intelligent species inhabiting Earth in the past.

Archeologists in the Altai Mountains, Siberia, found enormous human teeth, suggesting the existence of a giant human species.

The teeth were identified as belonging to the Denisovans, a previously unknown human subspecies.

The Denisovans may have been 7-8 feet tall, with massive skulls and jaws, indicating the existence of giants in ancient times.

The discovery of the Denisovans challenges traditional views of human evolution and the diversity of our ancestors.

Legends of extraordinarily large beings have persisted for thousands of years, possibly inspired by encounters with Denisovans.

The possibility of undiscovered branches of humanity suggests that our understanding of human evolution is still evolving.