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A New Human: The Startling Discovery and Strange Story of the "Hobbits" of Flores, Indonesia

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The authors, Mike Morwood and Penny Van Oosterzee, present a first-hand account of the discovery of parts of 13 hominin (ie `human lineage') skeletons (including a well-preserved skull), in a cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia in 2003. These bones have been interpreted to belong to a new species of `human': indeed a dwarfed descendant of a pre-Homo sapien species. Mike Morwood and co., who were responsible for the project, interpret the bones as belonging to dwarfed descendants of Homo habilis, only previously known from ~1.9 million year old specimens from Africa. The bones were found within sediments dating between 95,000 and 12,000 years ago, and reveal individuals only about 1.06m high, with a brain capacity of only 380cc, or around 1/3 of modern humans. Primitive tools, and evidence of hunting and fire were also found.

Massive ramifications ensue from such a discovery. Is this really a case of insular dwarfism, well-documented in the non-human world (where animals bigger than a rabbit on isolated islands tend to get considerably smaller over time), but never before in the `human' lineage? Or is it just a few medically-afflicted Homo sapien individuals? Is it really a different species? How long ago did they live? How did they die out? Did they have language? Did they have religion? Most of the current data and interpretations are presented in this book, although there has been some recent studies not presented in any detail, and of course there will be more to come. Tragically, some of the material has been damaged during research, due to bungling and politics.

The authors do an admirable job putting the find in its proper context. You will have to wade through about 100 pages of context and story before the discovery is actually made, but this is both necessary and interesting in its own right. Discussions include previous excavations on the island, the geological history of the region (Flores is only a few million years old), the significance of the Wallace and Lydekker Lines, migration routes, examples of island dwarfism (including elephants, goats, and deer), two-way traffic in and out of Africa within various animal lineages, and the development of recent agriculture in China and New Guinea, which promoted dispersal throughout Indonesia, Madagascar, and ultimately the Pacific. Other discussions include project planning, rationale and methodology; initial choices of excavation sites; the daily work of field staff; and the stratigraphic context and dating of the cave site.

The authors contend that it is likely that various homo species spread throughout Asia from Africa from around 3.7 and 2.6 million years ago. Their interpretation places this species, as mentioned, as descended from Homo habilis, with characteristics more closely resembling that species than the later Homo erectus, also found on nearby Java. They back this up with various diagrams, anatomical comparisons, dating, and other discussions. They also contend that Asia in general has played a larger role in human prehistory than previously acknowledged, and I must say their reasoning and arguments are very convincing. There is no shortage of surprising finds and scientific tradition within the area of south east Asia, including Indonesia. This includes the discovery of `Java man', and the significance of the Wallace Line in the discovery and formulation of evolutionary theory.

It is also mentioned that horses originally evolved in North America- evolving into the Zebra later in Africa, the `big cats' originated in Asia and later entered Africa evolving into the lion etc, but both elephants and the hominin lineage (that's our relatives) initially evolved in Africa and then spread outward, from several million years ago. The point is, is that Africa has had two-way traffic of various species, in and out, for eons. There is no reason to suggest that some hominin species originating in Africa (or even elsewhere) can't have evolved into new species regionally, including in an evolutionary hotspot such as Indonesia. This has been documented to have occurred with the Neanderthals in Eurasia, and within elephants in numerous places, such as North America (eg mastodon), and on poor old Flores island-the dwarfed elephant Stegodon-on which the small inhabitants of Flores hunted.

In addition to very good scientific review and discussions, all the good, bad and ugly that can occur within scientific research is discussed, including bureaucratic bungling, difficult field conditions, ownership of material, academic bungling, and research ethics; and in the worst cases, poaching, destruction of material during research, secret and/or ideological agendas, `theft', and international politics.

The interpretation of a `new species' going extinct relatively recently on Flores is not without its controversy. Some claim the bones are only medically afflicted Homo sapien individuals-specifically microcephalia-a condition which diminishes stature and brain size. However the authors contend that both the stratigraphic context, and features of the bones themselves, thoroughly discounts this interpretation. This includes anatomical traits which are not found in either Homo sapien (including pygmies) or microcephalic individuals, but are found in other ancestral species-including australopithecines and Homo habilis. I'm no anatomical expert, but I read that these include the forward orientation and length of the arms, the shape and other aspects of the skull, the shape of the pelvis, and the primitive roots of the teeth. The stratigraphic context, which reveals habitation over an extended time period, and the number of individuals found, also discounts this theory. There have also been several independent studies done on the bones which discount the microcephalia interpretation, however this alternate interpretation is still held by some.

There is a wealth of scientific information and context in this book. It is first class research and science writing, and should go a long way in the proper communication of this fascinating discovery.

The book is moderately technical, but most readers will be able to wade through most of the jargon, and the associated interpretations and controversies.

When reading about new advances in science it is often best to start with their discoverer, rather than with the "me toos" or the naysayers. Dr. Mike Morwood is an Australian anthropologist well qualified to undertake the now-famous excavations on the island of Flores in Indonesia. With a little journalistic help from a science writer he has turned in a solid book that is part travelogue, part excavation drama, and in the end, quite a shocking revelation about the rivalries that exist within the scientific community. The most common objections to the so-called Hobbits of Flores are that they are microcephalic sapiens, but as Dr. Morwood correctly points out, these arguments have been used before, and date back to the very first Neandertal and Java Man discoveries. Scientific support for the book comes with publication in "Nature" perhaps the most prestigious scientific journal, which also turned down articles submitted by the fossil's detractors. In the latter stages of the book "A New Human" examples of island biogeography and its association with gigantism and dwarfism are presented that should have been brought to the forefront, but this isn't a problem for a true believer. The most startling revelation is the fact that Morwood does not believe the Floresians are dwarf H. erectus (sorry italics not available), but instead H. habilis, or even descendents of Australopithecines! The author's open-mindedness about the importance of Asia and Indonesia to the overall evolutionary picture is refreshing and he makes an interesting point about the sudden appearance of H. ergaster in the fossil record that could be due to its evolution in Asia and a back-colonization of Africa. That pygmies have evolved at least four times in recent history is not in doubt, the Andaman Islanders, Negritos of the Philippines, and San Bushmen are not products of JRR Tolkien's imagination, and island biogeographic principles have clearly impacted the evolution of our ancestors, and other animals.

A New Human is just not a book on the discovery of Homo floresiensis and all the reactions to this amazing find of a new species of man but also a warning towards those who wish to enter the field of archaeology (or any field of science) that nothing is easy. Mike Morwood has to deal with a harsh landscape, a different culture, the scientific controversy his find would bring about and the bureaucracy that seemed to fight him every step of the way. If you have read Java Man, which tell us about the adventures and mishaps Geochronologists Carl Swisher and Garniss Curtis, then you should think of this book as the next book to read. It truly helped to make much of the events easier to understand.

[Note: there is an updated version of this book at A New Human: The Startling Discovery and Strange Story of the "Hobbits" of Flores, Indonesia, Updated Paperback Edition]

Like the rest of the world, I was fascinated by the 2004 discovery of small Hobbit-like hominid fossils on the island of Flores (and compared to the recent flap over Ida, it's worth remembering how professionally the Hobbit discovery was handled). Also like the rest of the world, I had little appreciation of the process and politics behind the find. In this book, Morwood recounts his role in the finds. The book focuses on the science of the Hobbits themselves, including the preparations for the archeology and descriptions of the fossils themselves. Morwood also discusses the basic science behind paleoanthropology and island dwarfism in separate chapters, which help buttress his claim that the "Hobbits" are actually a distinct species.

However, the book also has some fascinating accounts of the bureaucratic and political hassles the team faced. Most dramatically, the core team of Australian and Indonesian archeologists competed with older Indonesian archeologists who wanted to keep the bones for their own studies. Morwood never spends so much time on these problems to distract from the importance of the find, but it does create a more realistic picture of science as a process.

Morwood is biased and does not try to hide his anger at critics who dismiss the find as the result of pathology (such as modern humans with microcephaly). However, I thought the book presented enough evidence to show that the claims should be taken seriously. More studies and peer review are of course welcome, but this book presents the evidence and arguments in a manner that the "he-said, she-said" style of journalism fails to capture. Morwood directly addresses the criticisms (for example noting that microcephaly would not produce the other primitive features found on the bones, such as feet with no arches). Even more interestingly, Morwood discusses the history of paleoanthropology and how pathology had often been used to explain away new species of hominids.

My one complaint about the book is that it is pretty short (especially for the price!). It is around 240 pages, but fairly large text and a few pictures scattered throughout. I read it in about a day (a day during which I had other chores to complete). I thought the sections on current theories of human evolution could have been expanded to explain the full diversity of past humans (over 20 species). I was also a bit unclear how Morwood sees Asia in the history of human evolution. He obviously believes Asia played a larger role than is credited (especially when compared to Africa), but the "Out of Africa" hypothesis has other strong elements (including the fact that there is far more human diversity on Africa, suggesting a longer evolution on the continent). Hopefully, we will hear more about the Hobbits and their role in reshaping the story of human evolution.

Excellent book. You don't need to be an expert in paleoanthropology to understand the overall significance of what the author went through and what the new find of homo floresiensis means. A great book for anyone who finds human origins an interesting topic. Morwood seems to be a genuinely expert and compassionate person and it comes through in the book. Pretty magical stuff.

This book was outstanding. A good review of several basic tenets in paleoanthropology plus an intimate, detailed and frank description of the interaction and opinions of various experts concerning this important find. I would strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in human origins

The story of Homo floresiensis, in and of itself, is incredible, but to read about it from a member of the original team makes for a compelling book. In developing histories on discoveries, it is always good to get a book like this early in the drama, before all the political debates ensue. This is a volume those intrigued by this new find must have. (Possible shortcomings: In the review proof copy I was sent, there is no index nor photographs. Perhaps the final printing contains both. I was not sent a final review copy.) - Loren Coleman

A detailed account of this historical find with enough background information to put the subject in true perspective. The account of the ensuing controversy is certainly biased and the importance that it takes in the book is regrettable. The consequences of this find question so much of our past understanding of the chronology of evolution that greater in depth discussion would have been welcomed.