Debates of all kinds
2005/10/20 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia
It was baptized as Homo floresiensis and announced as another species of the same human group. What was surprising was not the size, Lucy, who is considered one of our oldest ancestors, was not much older. But Lucy lived three million years ago and her skeleton on on Flores Island in Indonesia is only 18,000 years old. It can be said that it is almost yesterday. In fact, at that time – as previously
thought – our direct ancestors, members of Homo sapiens, had been on Earth alone for about 10,000 years. The other species of our line had already disappeared.
In addition, they found in the same field stone tools, which led researchers to think that this hominid had the capacity to manufacture and use tools. But according to current hypotheses, the owner of a brain of just 400 cubic centimeters could not.
The debate arose immediately and remains: perhaps it is not another species, but some special specimen of some known species, of some disease.
that was small or pygmy...
There are known cases of mammals that due to the special isolation conditions of the islands, with low pressure from predators and limited resources, have been much greater or less than usual. On the island of Flores itself, for example, remains of dwarf elephants and giant rats have been found, so the same may have happened with man.
Undoubtedly, an interesting academic debate has been opened around the discovery of hobbit. That's going to give...who knows! And it is that human beings have a past of few traces, and each new fossil puts almost upside down their previous beliefs. But the debate has gone beyond academics, to become a confrontation. And that for now does not look good.
Coinciding with the dissemination of the news of the discovery, Australian researchers have stated that in the excavation area they will not be able to work anymore. In his opinion, he is hindering the investigation because Teuku Jacob, the most prestigious anthropologist in Indonesia, and the national symbol, are opposed. Teuku Jacob has opposed the Hobbit hypothesis from the beginning. He proclaims that the bones belong to a Homo sapiens with some genetic disease, and Australians denounce that he is exercising his power to hijack remains and deposit.
Last winter, for example, Teuku Jacob had traces in his hands for about four months, so the Australian article has been published several months late. In addition, during this trip several bones have been broken and lost to investigate, according to the Australians.
The Indonesian anthropologist has calmly addressed all the complaints. He indicates that he has done nothing but the work he has entrusted: that one of the excavation coordinators, the head of the Indonesian team, asked him to examine the tracks and that he has taken the necessary time to do so. He believes that the debate is disproportionate and has no interest in hindering anyone's work. However, he said that it seems good to him that the remains found in Indonesia are analyzed by his researchers and has also called modern conquering Australian researchers. What will this other debate give… who knows.
Published in Berria
