5 days ago
Stone tool discovery shows ancient ‘hobbit' humans had a mysterious neighbour
A new study suggests humans may have crossed mainland Southeast Asia to surrounding islands much earlier than previously believed.
Million-year-old stone tools have been discovered on Indonesia 's Sulawesi island, indicating early human presence there.
These artefacts suggest humans reached Sulawesi around 1.04 million years ago, potentially at the same time as or even earlier than Flores island.
The findings contribute to understanding the movement of extinct humans across the Wallace Line and the evolution of species like the Flores 'hobbit' (Homo floresiensis).
While the tools confirm early human activity on Sulawesi, the identity of these tool-makers remains unknown as no hominin fossils have been found at the site.