# Did Hobbits Actually Exist? An Intriguing Discovery in Indonesia
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Chapter 1: The Allure of Fantasy Characters
What is it that draws audiences of all ages and cultures to the characters in “The Lord of the Rings”? J.R.R. Tolkien created beings that resonate with humans, reminiscent of ancient entities that roamed the earth.
Homo floresiensis — [Photo: Cicero Moraes et alii, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
Over a century ago, Otto Schrader, a scholar of religions and Indo-European languages, argued that figures like elves, trolls, and gnomes are rooted in serious mythological traditions rather than mere children’s tales. The societies he studied believed in protective deities and spirits associated with home and community.
Christianity sought to suppress these beliefs, categorizing them under “paganism,” but only partially succeeded. The mythical beings faded from formal religion, retreating to remote areas, forests, and the collective imagination of people, where they persist today, evident in the enduring popularity of fantasy literature, films, and games.
These fantastical creatures were often envisioned as human-like yet endowed with traits that represented human desires or fears. How does the human mind reconcile these magical beings?
Professor Anatoly Liberman, head of the German and Scandinavian history department at Minnesota State University, explains, “One effective way to mitigate fear was to reduce the perceived size of these entities. A demon or wilderness creature becomes less intimidating if imagined as child-sized, making it more likable.”
This notion is supported by contemporary psychological studies. For instance, a study by the University of Louisville found that participants attributed greater height to a person when presented as “Professor Smith” rather than “Mr. Smith.”
A group of psychologists from Minnesota State University also demonstrated that individuals with childlike facial features—large eyes, small noses, and full lips—evoke immediate sympathy, often being associated with kindness and playfulness.
Some theories suggest these preferences are ingrained in our genetics. Women may be inclined to nurture children, while men seek loyal partners to ensure family survival. A study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society involving 10,000 women revealed that the average British woman stands at 162 cm, yet those between 152-158 cm are more likely to form lasting relationships leading to childbirth.
It is thus understandable that our ancestors would downsize the creatures they feared or wished to control. Such beings emerged in folklore across the globe, with the characters in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” serving as modern incarnations of these legends.
Homo floresiensis skull — [Photo: Ryan Somma, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
Chapter 2: The Origin of Hobbits
What inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to create hobbits? These characters embody a conservative lifestyle, embracing the motto “let there be war across the world, as long as our village remains peaceful.” They are agrarian, cherish nature, enjoy good food, favor colorful attire, and prefer the comfort of their hometowns, often relishing solitude.
Standing at a height of no more than 4 feet (120-130 cm), hobbits are known for their hairy, tough-footed nature, choosing to go without shoes. While they are absent from known mythologies, their popularity has led to the term “hobbit” entering various languages. Tolkien himself claimed to have invented the term without a specific reason, describing it as a “flash of intuition.”
The world first encountered hobbits in 1937 with the publication of “The Hobbit.” Legend has it that Tolkien, weary of grading student essays while lecturing in philology at Oxford, penned a humorous comment on a student’s paper: “in a certain burrow there lived a certain hobbit.” This marked the inception of a narrative that would solidify his legacy.
Where did these hobbits reside? Unbeknownst to Tolkien, reality would soon outstrip fiction. In 2003, researchers uncovered remains on the Indonesian island of Flores that belonged to a previously unknown hominid species, distinct from Neanderthals. This individual stood approximately 1 meter tall, possessed a skull larger than modern humans, and demonstrated cognitive abilities, tool-making skills, and teamwork.
The village inhabited by this hominid was obliterated by a volcanic eruption over 12,000 years ago. Meanwhile, the tools discovered nearby, including stone knives, date back around 800,000 years. This new species was designated Homo floresiensis, widely referred to as hobbit.
Homo floresiensis woman — [Photo: Em?ke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
Did hobbits truly exist? Despite their diminutive stature, Homo floresiensis bore little resemblance to the peaceful Baggins. This ancient hominid was characterized as aggressive and warlike, with paleontologists attributing the extinction of dwarf elephants and large tortoises on the island to their actions.
The discovery of these “hobbits” sent shockwaves through the scientific community, particularly when archaeologist Adam Brumm from the University of Wollongong in Australia proposed that civilization on Flores may have originated over 1.8 million years ago.
However, not all scholars are convinced by these sweeping claims. Critics argue that the small size and cranial dimensions could result from conditions such as microcephaly, dwarfism, or cognitive impairments. The resolution to this debate will depend on ongoing research, which requires excavating through layers of volcanic ash and lava.
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