Gregory Forth claims in his new book that a human species that has also been called a "hobbit" still exists on the Indonesia Island of Flores.

As indicated in a Medium report, the professor said that the legend of "Ebu Gogo" is called Homo floresiensis, or Flores man.

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Most scientists have agreed that H. floresiensis is an extinct hominid species whose most recent representative turned extinct approximately 50,000 years ago.

Based on a common theory, the said species died out perhaps, as an outcome of losing a battle for resources to rational man.

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Homo Floresiensis
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons/Cicero Moraes et alii)
An image of the second version of Archaeological Forensic Facial Reconstruction of the individual LB1 of the species Homo floresiensis.


The Legend of 'Ebu Gogo'

Some in the academic field nonetheless believe that Flores man may have survived, and some individuals were even seen in the later 19th century. As specified in the said report, the bold thesis would detail the legend of Ebu Gogo.

Forth, a Canadian anthropologist is a professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Alberta. He has committed much of his scientific profession to research the history of Flores man.

Scientist, the Ebu Gogo said, a tiny, hairy cave-dwelling creature on the Indonesian island that developed in folklore may, as mentioned, be Homo floresiensis.

Professor Forth described the species as really unknown when the species turned extinct. He added they don't know the end of it "ever really went extinct." The anthropologist believes there is a probability that Flores man is still roaming the island.

Human Encounters with the Creatures

Forth has been carrying out studies on Forest Island since the early 1890s; since then, he had heard more than one story about tiny creatures resembling humans and living in caves or forests.

In his book, with an excerpt published in TheScientist, the anthropologist describes encounters of humans with these creatures.

He claimed that he had heard stories about the Flores man. Some, he continued, were encountered in the Lio region of Flores Island. On the other hand, he said the locals there claim that the creatures still exist and are alive.

Forth also said that up t 30 individuals have had "eyewitness encounters with Homo floresiensis. Locals there said they believe that the creatures "are neither humans nor apes." He pointed out that the description of the legends of Ebu Gogo matches that of Flores man.

Meet Flores Man

According to a Live Science report, H. floresiensis' first remains were discovered in the early 2000s in Liang Bua's limestone cave.

Assessment of the bone fragments demonstrated that the Flores man was depicted with a small body build and a tiny brain.

The discoverers called the species "a hobbit" as he resembled the race created by the iconic author, JRR Tolkien.

The origin of H. floresiensis remains unclear. At first, it was believed that its direct predecessor was Homo erectus.

Laser studies have shown that he may also be a "twin species to Homo habilis." Essentially, traces of fire, which, perhaps, were used for cooking food, and stone tools were discovered close to the Flores man's remains.

Related information about Homo floresiensis and Hobbits is shown on PBS Eons' YouTube video below:

 

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