The fossilised jawbone (pictured) of a diminutive species of early human that lived 700,000 years ago has been discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores. It is thought to be the direct ancestor of the Hobbit of Flores, the 3.5 feet tall human species that lived around 50,000 years ago
Anthropologists have discovered the lower jaw and a series of teeth from at least one adult and possibly two children of what appears to be an early form of the hobbit, Homo floresiensis.
WHO WERE THE FLORES HOBBITS
Standing a little over 3ft (1.5 metres) tall, the inhabitants of Liang Bua cave on the remote Indonesian island of Flores are known from just a few fragmented remains.
The first remains were found in 2003 and since then partial skeletons of nine individuals, including one complete skull have been unearthed.
Researchers believe the little people were descendants of prehistoric humans - Homo erectus - who became isolated on the island around one million years ago.
There are various theories for how they got there.
Some believe they may have walked across a landbridge from the mainland Asia and as sea levels rose they became cut off.
Others suggest they were swept to the island following a tsunami.
Once cut off, these hominins then had to survive on what food they could find, they evolved a small stature.
Scientists have previously said they were clever hunters because they had found evidence of toolmaking, butchering and fires.
Perhaps most extraordinarily these diminutive ancient humans may have been even smaller than their descendants, who are thought to have stood 3.5ft tall and died out around 50,000 years ago.
It promises to settle a long running argument about whether Homo floresiensis was really a separate species of human or merely a pigmy form of our own species Homo sapiens.read more
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