Backpacker island in media spotlight
The mountainous, remote Indonesian island of Flores, previously little known on the tourist trail except as a destination for backpackers, is this morning in the centre of the media’s spotlight following the discovery of a new species of ape-man.
Scientists have uncovered remains of three-foot-tall humans, now officially names Homo Floresiensis – or Flores Man – who are thought to have been alive as little as 13,000 years ago.
Visitors to the island have long been told folk tales about pigmy forest dwellers; it now appears that there really was another species of human being living alongside homo sapiens.
The Independent quotes Professor Mike Norwood, of the joint Australian / Indonesian team that excavated the remains, as saying that he “could not believe” the discovery: “We believe their ancestors reached the islands in bamboo rafts. The clear implication is … these little humans were intelligent and almost certainly had language.”
Despite certain sections of the media suggesting that there may still be Homo Floresiensis alive on the island, The Independent reports that Flores was hit by a huge volcanic eruption some 12,000 years ago and that there is no record of the species living after this date.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
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