A recent investigation published on July 3rd in the scientific journal Science Advances proposes a new theory about the way of life of Homo floresiensis: these small hominids obtained their food from the residues left by Komodo dragons.
A recent investigation published on July 3rd in the scientific journal Science Advances proposes a new theory about the way of life of Homo floresiensis: these small hominids obtained their food from the residues left by Komodo dragons.
Homo floresiensis are hominids who lived on Earth thousands of years ago, although the exact period of their existence is debated, with some fossil dates pointing to about 700 thousand years and others to approximately 50 thousand years. Their reduced physical stature, measuring about one meter in height, earned them the nickname 'hobbit', in allusion to the creatures of the Lord of the Rings saga.
Previously, evidence such as elephant bones, charred animal remains, and tools led archaeologists to believe that H. floresiensis was capable of hunting large prey and using fire. However, this idea seemed questionable due to their small brain volume, comparable to that of an orange.
The new research suggests that the elephant bones found in the habitats of H. floresiensis were not killed by the hominids themselves, but rather by Komodo dragons. These venomous reptiles, capable of reaching up to three meters in length, also inhabited the island of Flores, where traces of the 'hobbits' were discovered.
Komodo dragons hunted large animals, including Stegodon florensis insularis, a variety of dwarf elephant about 1.5 meters tall, leaving behind remains such as hides, bones, and organs. This carcass served as a food source for the 'hobbits.'
To validate this hypothesis, researchers examined more than 3,000 bone fragments collected in Liang Bua, dated between 190 thousand and 50 thousand years ago. They observed that the marks on the prehistoric elephant bones did not correspond to cuts made by human instruments, nor did they show perforations typical of stone spears.
In a test conducted at the Atlanta Zoo in the United States, scientists fed the Komodo dragon Rinca and subsequently analyzed the marks on its carcasses using three-dimensional imaging. The result showed a strong similarity between the reptile's bites and those found on the fossils of ancient elephants.
Although some cuts on the fossils appear to have been made by human tools, these represented a minority. Most of the marks were consistent with Komodo dragon bites and were located in the fattiest areas of the body, such as hips and shoulders, which are first consumed by predators. The cuts attributed to tools were concentrated on parts with less meat, such as the ribs.
Regarding burnt bones, chemical analyses revealed that, out of the 3,155 fragments analyzed, only one showed signs of carbonization, which was a rib from a Stegodon. This bone was adjacent to the geological layer associated with Homo sapiens and close to more recent vestiges. For this reason, researchers concluded that the fragment may have been exposed on the surface of the cave during human occupation, being subsequently burned, indicating that the 'hobbits' probably did not master fire.
It is concluded that the hominids possessed less complex capabilities than previously thought, but developed an effective method to survive on an island with giant predators competing for resources. Furthermore, previous studies suggested that Homo floresiensis derived from Homo erectus, who already controlled fire; however, the new thesis points to a distinct ancestral lineage that had not yet acquired this ability.