Homo floresiensis was very first found in 2003 in Liang Bua on the Indonesian island of Flores.

Called the hobbit due to its small stature, the types challenged dominating theories of human development.

It vanished from the fossil record around 50,000 years earlier, however its fate has actually stayed an enigma.

“In 2003, excavations at the Liang Bua rock shelter discovered the skeletal remains of a formerly unidentified small-bodied hominin types, Homo floresiensis,” stated University of Wollongong’s Honorary Professor Mike Gagan and his associates.

“The Homo floresiensis profession period was at first dated to 95,000-12,000 years back, raising the possibility of interaction with early contemporary people (Humankindin Island Southeast Asia, with ramifications for the termination of the types.”

“Following modifications to the website’s stratigraphy and chronology, nevertheless, all Homo floresiensis skeletal remains now date to about 100,000-60,000 years earlier.”

“The associated stone artifact record and assemblage of big animals normally discovered with Homo floresiensis end at about 50,000 years back.”

“The modifications suggest that their disappearance from the record preceded contemporary human arrival at Liang Bua around 46,000 years back, marked by a significant shift in the assemblage of basic materials for stone tool making.”

In the research study, the authors integrated chemical records from cavern stalagmites with isotopic information from fossil teeth from a pygmy elephant types (Stegodon florensis insularisthat Homo floresiensis hunted.

The outcomes expose a substantial drying pattern starting around 76,000 years back, culminating in serious dry spell in between 61,000 and 55,000 years back, around the time the hominin types vanished.

Extended dry spell and competitors for resources might have driven their departure from Liang Bua and, eventually, their termination.

“The community around Liang Bua ended up being considerably drier around the time Homo floresiensis disappeared,” stated University of Wollongong’s Honorary Professor Mike Gagan, the lead author of the research study.

“Summer rains fell and river-beds ended up being seasonally dry, putting tension on both hobbits and their victim.”

The pygmy elephant population fell steeply around 61,000 years back, implying that an essential food source for the hobbits was vanishing.

“Surface freshwater, Stegodon and Homo floresiensis all decrease at the very same time, revealing the intensifying results of environmental tension,” stated University of Wollongong’s Dr. Gert van den Berg.

“Competition for decreasing water and food most likely required the hobbits to desert Liang Bua.”

“While Homo floresiensis fossils pre-date the earliest proof of modern-day human beings on Flores, Humankind were passing through the Indonesian island chain around the time the hobbits vanished.”

“It’s possible that as the hobbits relocated search of water and victim, they came across contemporary human beings,” Professor Gagan stated.

“In that sense, environment modification might have set the phase for their last disappearance.”

The research study was released in the journal Communications Earth & & Environment

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M.K. Gagan et al2025. Beginning of summertime aridification and the decrease of Homo floresiensis at Liang Bua 61,000 years earlier. Commun Earth Environ 6, 992; doi: 10.1038/ s43247-025-02961-3