Recent highlights in the discovery of fossils in the regions of Indonesia, the Philippines, and even Lao PDR have completely shaken the foundations of our understanding of human evolutionary history. Awakening us from the long slumber of conventional beliefs, these findings clearly indicate that the history of Southeast Asia is far more complex than we ever thought.
Ancient traces in the form of fossils reveal an extraordinary landscape where diverse communities of early humans explored and inhabited the region long before our preconceived notions of time. Crawling in the hazy light of history, they shared land and time with our more modern ancestors, creating unexpected interactions that disrupt our familiar linear narrative.
All of these jarring discoveries stimulate an inescapable curiosity that creeps into our minds: Where did they begin? How did these journeys across territories take shape? And how do they fit into the complex web of human evolution? With each fossil that comes to light, we are more compelled to dig deeper and pull back the curtain on Southeast Asia's increasingly fascinating past.
Homo floresiensis
In 2003-2004, archaeologists discovered fossils of a new individual of a hominin species in the Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia. The species, named Homo floresiensis, was discovered by a joint team of Indonesian and Australian researchers led by M.J. Morwood of the University of New England.
The fossils reveal the anatomical differences between Homo floresiensis and other previously known species. They had short bodies, less than 4 meters tall, small heads about one-third the size of modern humans, thick and prominent eyebrows, no chin, tiny collar bones, primitive wrists, and large, flat feet.
These characteristics are exactly the same as those of the austrolopithecines, an ancient branch of hominins that appeared in Africa about three million years ago. However, Homo floresiensis also has modern features such as a flatter face, smaller teeth, and a pelvis, femur, and toes that suggest the ability to walk on two legs like humans.
In addition to the fossilized remains, archaeologists found a variety of stone tools and animal bones nearby, including stegodon bones, which are similar to elephants. In addition, "charred bones and clusters of stones reddened and cracked by fire" were found, indicating the use of fire by past societies. In a 2005 Nature article, M.J. Morwood and his colleagues stated that this region was the center of various hominin activities and that Homo floresiensis was capable of complex behavior and thought.
Homo floresiensis inhabited Flores from at least 100,000 to about 50,000 years ago. This means that their existence coincided with the arrival of modern humans in Southeast Asia about 60,000 years ago. However, despite this overlap in time, there is still no concrete evidence of an encounter between these two species.
As for the arrival and footprints of Homo floresiensis on Flores, this is still a mystery. The discovery team suggested that they may have been descendants of Homo erectus, the first generation of hominins to cross Africa. They suggest that adaptations to a harsh environment, limited resources and a lack of predators may have led this species to evolve to a smaller, unique body size.
However, there are other views from different researchers. Some argue that the fossils are of Homo sapiens suffering from medical conditions such as microcephaly, which explains their distinctive anatomy. However, this theory is no longer supported by the scientific community.
Recent discoveries and more detailed analyses of hominin species suggest a different hypothesis. It turns out that Homo floresiensis is a legacy of an early hominin lineage (>1.75 million years ago) that migrated out of Africa, and not a new derivative of Homo erectus or Homo sapiens, as Argue and colleagues showed in the Journal of Human Evolution.
Although two decades have passed since their discovery, the mysteries surrounding Homo floresiensis remain unsolved. Whether it's how they interacted, communicated, overcame environmental challenges, or why they went extinct, these things continue to captivate the scientific community and the general public, making Homo floresiensis a fascinating and mysterious object of study.
Homo luzonensis
In 2019, an international team led by Armand Mijares of the University of the Philippines and Florent Detroit of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle announced a discovery that shook up hominin genealogy. Foot fossils from 2007 and additional fragments found in 2019 in Callao Cave in northern Luzon indicate the presence of hominins in the Philippines some 50,000 to 67,000 years ago.
They named the species "Homo luzonensis" in a 2019 Nature paper. These fossils have unique morphological features, combining primitive and derived traits that distinguish them from other species in the genus Homo, including Homo floresiensis and Homo sapiens.
In particular, they have small teeth that resemble more modern hominins, while their hands and feet resemble australopithecines. Their size suggests a possible short stature, similar to Homo floresiensis. However, there are not enough fossil fragments to determine how they moved or used their hands.
As with Homo floresiensis, the evolution of Homo luzonensis and its relationship to other hominins of the same era remains a mystery. The researchers said more evidence and new discoveries are needed to understand this species' place in the evolutionary tree.
Recent Fossil Discoveries in Lao PDR
In June of this year, archaeologists made an exciting discovery in the Tam Pà Ling cave in the northern part of Laos. They found skull fragments estimated to be around 70,000 years old, while dry bones are around 77,000 years old, possibly even older. Skull fragments were also found at the same site about a decade ago and were estimated to be 46,000 years old.
Interestingly, experts believe that these bone fragments may belong to Homo sapiens, although the older fossils, which have a combination of ancient and modern features, signal a possible earlier wave in the development of modern humans. The findings expand our view of the contribution of these groups to the gene pool of modern humans. The location of the discovery, in the highlands of Southeast Asia, also challenges the assumption that early modern human travel was limited to the coastline, while upland forests also played an important role in the history of human movement.
Archaeologists continue to explore, hoping to find more complete fossils that could reveal more about the origins and travels of this modern human group. Each fragment brings us closer to the mysterious pieces that make up the story of human evolution.
Impact of Southeast Asia Finds
The discovery of Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis shattered the long-held belief that only modern humans could overcome the challenges of open water and explore the world. The fact that species much older than Homo erectus were able to cross continents challenges this view.
At the same time, the presence of both ancient and modern species in Southeast Asia encourages further research into their interactions and adaptations to the region's diverse environments. The hominin evolutionary remains found in this region suggest that we still have many mysteries to solve about human genealogy.
Southeast Asia is a treasure trove of clues to human origins and variation. The courage with which ancient species made the arduous journey motivates us to reflect on the evolutionary history and capabilities of early humans.
Source:
Joanne B. Agbisit, The ASEAN Magazine. Early Humans in Southeast Asia | the ASEAN. 28 June 2023, theaseanmagazine.asean.org/article/early-humans-in-southeast-asia/?fbclid=PAAabVwZR2daIWXEhtMFmGmR0MuSBH2vvk6NeQTfM-35ikbK8KsxpYOTz7xjY.
