By: Marcia DiStefan

What is a Hobbit?What is a Hobbit?

Also known as Homo FloresiensisAlso known as Homo Floresiensis Existed 18 000 years agoExisted 18 000 years ago Liang Bua is located on the island of Flores Liang Bua is located on the island of Flores

in Indonesiain Indonesia LB1 is the most complete skeleton of the LB1 is the most complete skeleton of the

Hobbit that has been discoveredHobbit that has been discovered Homo Floresiensis was given the nickname Homo Floresiensis was given the nickname

after the after the Lord of the RingsLord of the Rings films by J.J.R. films by J.J.R. TolkienTolkien

Discovery of LB1Discovery of LB1

• Nearly Complete Skeleton (missing one arm)

•Adult Female

•Just over a meter tall

•Brain 1/3 the size of ours

•Small teeth and protruding jaw

Other Characteristics of a Other Characteristics of a HobbitHobbit

• Very short legs

•Large feet for the length of their body

•The shape of their pelvis, legs and feet prove they walked upright

•Narrow nose, a protruding brow which stuck out over there eye sockets and a retreating chin

Where did Where did Hobbits Evolve Hobbits Evolve

From?From?

Could Hobbits Evolved from Could Hobbits Evolved from Homo Erectus?Homo Erectus?

Hobbits my have evolved from Homo erectusHobbits my have evolved from Homo erectus Lived 1.8 million years agoLived 1.8 million years ago Hobbits are possibly Homo erectus with a growth Hobbits are possibly Homo erectus with a growth

condition (microcephly)condition (microcephly) Hobbits could be a Homo erectus that shrunk to Hobbits could be a Homo erectus that shrunk to

adapted to the small islandadapted to the small island Doubts about this theory because LB1’s tiny brain Doubts about this theory because LB1’s tiny brain

dates back farther than H. erectusdates back farther than H. erectus Hobbits are more primitive than H. erectusHobbits are more primitive than H. erectus If the foot was only evidence of the Hobbit it If the foot was only evidence of the Hobbit it

would be much easier to determine that Hobbits would be much easier to determine that Hobbits were dwarfed descendents of H. erectuswere dwarfed descendents of H. erectus

Could Hobbits have Evolved Could Hobbits have Evolved from Homo Habilis?from Homo Habilis?

Hobbits my have evolved Hobbits my have evolved from Homo Habilisfrom Homo Habilis

Lived around 2 million Lived around 2 million years agoyears ago

Both had small brains, Both had small brains, long neck and several long neck and several other characteristicsother characteristics

Effects of the Hobbit on Effects of the Hobbit on the 21the 21stst Century Century

Species Can Adapt to Their Species Can Adapt to Their SurroundingsSurroundings

Once thought only animals could Once thought only animals could adapt to surroundingsadapt to surroundings

When Hobbits moved to island of When Hobbits moved to island of Flores they shrank in sizeFlores they shrank in size

Larger animals often become smaller Larger animals often become smaller (Stegodons)(Stegodons)

Smaller animals often are over sizedSmaller animals often are over sized

Discoveries That Influenced the Discoveries That Influenced the 2121stst Century Century

Hobbits may have manufactured several Hobbits may have manufactured several tools that were thought to have been tools that were thought to have been made by Homo sapiens (humans)made by Homo sapiens (humans)

Homo sapiens moved to Flores 11 000 Homo sapiens moved to Flores 11 000 years ago and used the same techniques years ago and used the same techniques as the Hobbits who were there before as the Hobbits who were there before themthem

Evidence that Hobbits tamed firesEvidence that Hobbits tamed fires Once thought humans were the first to Once thought humans were the first to

tame firetame fire

Glitches in EvolutionGlitches in Evolution

The discovery of The discovery of Hobbit’s shows there Hobbit’s shows there are several glitches in are several glitches in evolution we are not evolution we are not aware ofaware of

Quite possibly other Quite possibly other species out there all species out there all over the worldover the world

The HobbitThe Hobbit

There is so much more information to There is so much more information to be discovered about the Hobbit be discovered about the Hobbit

before we can determine its exact before we can determine its exact origin. Its possible that the Hobbit origin. Its possible that the Hobbit could be evolved from a species we could be evolved from a species we

have yet to discover. have yet to discover.

Picture References Picture References •http://www.newswise.com/images/uploads/2009/02/06/fullsize/LB1_skeleton.jpg

•http://donsmaps.com/hobbitsflores.html

•http://www.boneclones.com/images/bh-033b-lg.jpg

•http://www.boneclones.com/images/bh-033-md.jpg

•http://mentone-educational.com.au/freestyler/gui/files/s_03-1.gif

•http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ifNvMe6zXXc/SZc8toJ9klI/AAAAAAAAAOs/vYBw0lEpQh4/s320/floreselephant.jpg

•http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00582/news-graphics-2004-_582191a.gif

ReferencesReferences Bosveld, J. (2009). 85: Hobbit Humans: Small Head, Big Bosveld, J. (2009). 85: Hobbit Humans: Small Head, Big

Feet. Feet. DiscoverDiscover, , 3030(1), (1), 68. Retrieved from Science Reference Center 68. Retrieved from Science Reference Center

database.database. Groves, C. (2008). WALKING WITH HOBBITS. Groves, C. (2008). WALKING WITH HOBBITS. Australasian Australasian

ScienceScience, , 2929(2), 16.(2), 16. Retrieved from Science Reference Center database.Retrieved from Science Reference Center database. Wong, K. (2005, February). The Littlest Human. Wong, K. (2005, February). The Littlest Human. Scientific Scientific

AmericanAmerican, 58-65., 58-65. Wong, K. (2009, November). Rethinking the Hobbits of Wong, K. (2009, November). Rethinking the Hobbits of

Indonesia. Indonesia. ScientificScientific AmericanAmerican, 66-73., 66-73. (2006). It's a hobbit… no, it's a human… no, it's a hobbit. (2006). It's a hobbit… no, it's a human… no, it's a hobbit.

New ScientistNew Scientist,, 192192(2573), 18. Retrieved from Science Reference Center (2573), 18. Retrieved from Science Reference Center

database.database.