Hobbit Ancestors Were Even Shorter, New Study Shows

Twenty years after discovering 'hobbit' fossils in Indonesia, scientists have found an ancestor species that was even shorter. The findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest these individuals were 2.4 inches shorter and lived 700,000 years ago. Researchers continue to debate their place in human evolution.

Twenty years after the discovery of 'hobbit' fossils on an Indonesian island, scientists have unveiled new findings that suggest their ancestors were even shorter.

According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, these early humans stood at about 2.4 inches (6 centimeters) shorter than the already diminutive 'hobbits,' measuring in at a mere 3 1/2 feet (1.07 meters).

The revelations came after studying a jawbone, teeth, and a tiny arm bone fragment from a site called Mata Menge, located 45 miles from the original discovery site. Researchers remain divided on how the hobbits fit into the greater human evolutionary story, necessitating further fossil discoveries and studies.

(With inputs from agencies.)