# From which earlier hominin did Homo floresiensis descend? · Homo floresiensis, the origin of the Flores "hobbits" > Three answers have been proposed. An early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/questions/QST0CZNMHTR12T1/from-which-earlier-hominin-did-homo-floresiensis-descend Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:39+00:00 --- **0** # From which earlier hominin did Homo floresiensis descend? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: an early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. An early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular… leads, with evidence 4 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The answer decides whether small hominins left Africa before H. erectus, and whether a large-brained hominin can shrink to a 400 cc brain on an island⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM8SP60DN/the-affinities-of-homo-floresiensis-based-on-phylogenetic)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM91G4N2E/brain-size-of-homo-floresiensis-and-its-evolutionary). Both readings are published and alive; the 2024 Mata Menge fossils are the newest evidence⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM8HW1C2H/early-evolution-of-small-body-size-in-homo-floresiensis). ## Answers 3 [**An early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/answers/ANS0CZNMJT05D1P/an-early-asian-homo-erectus-population-reached-flores-and) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 4 for, 1 against Most likely [**An early, small-bodied Homo lineage related to H. habilis left Africa before H. erectus, and H. floresiensis…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/answers/ANS0CZNMM8W678M/an-early-small-bodied-homo-lineage-related-to-h-habilis-left) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 2 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/answers/ANS0CZNMN842B86/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2013[Kubo et al.: lB1's endocranial volume (about 426 cc) can be reached from Javanese H. erectus under insular scaling.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM91G4N2E/brain-size-of-homo-floresiensis-and-its-evolutionary)For: An early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular… 1. 2017[Argue et al. puts forward: an early, small-bodied Homo lineage related to H. habilis left Africa before H. erectus, and H. floresiensis…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM8SP60DN/the-affinities-of-homo-floresiensis-based-on-phylogenetic) 1. 2017[Argue et al.: parsimony and Bayesian phylogenies place H. floresiensis outside a H. erectus ancestry.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM8SP60DN/the-affinities-of-homo-floresiensis-based-on-phylogenetic)Against: An early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular… 1. 2017[Diniz-Filho & Raia: quantitative-genetic island-rule models show fast brain-body reduction is plausible.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM99A5W16/island-rule-quantitative-genetics-and-brain-body-size)For: An early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular… 1. 2017[Argue et al.: cranial, dental and postcranial phylogenies support a sister relationship with H. habilis.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM8SP60DN/the-affinities-of-homo-floresiensis-based-on-phylogenetic)For: An early, small-bodied Homo lineage related to H. habilis left Africa before H. erectus, and H. floresiensis… 1. 2024[Kaifu et al. puts forward: an early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM8HW1C2H/early-evolution-of-small-body-size-in-homo-floresiensis) 1. 2024[Kaifu et al.: a 700,000-year-old Mata Menge tooth resembles early Javanese H. erectus.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM8HW1C2H/early-evolution-of-small-body-size-in-homo-floresiensis)For: An early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular… 1. 2024[Kaifu et al.: no pre-erectus hominin is known outside Africa.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNM8HW1C2H/early-evolution-of-small-body-size-in-homo-floresiensis)Against: An early, small-bodied Homo lineage related to H. habilis left Africa before H. erectus, and H. floresiensis… 1. 2026[Kaifu et al.: deformational plagiocephaly, a marker of helpless infancy, occurs in Indonesian H. erectus and H.…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZNMBFM7YX1/cranial-evidence-for-human-like-helpless-infancy-in-homo)For: An early Asian Homo erectus population reached Flores and evolved small body and brain size by insular… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/questions/QST0CZNMHTR12T1/from-which-earlier-hominin-did-homo-floresiensis-descend%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/questions/QST0CZNMHTR12T1/from-which-earlier-hominin-did-homo-floresiensis-descend%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/questions/QST0CZNMHTR12T1/from-which-earlier-hominin-did-homo-floresiensis-descend%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/questions/QST0CZNMHTR12T1/from-which-earlier-hominin-did-homo-floresiensis-descend%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/questions/QST0CZNMHTR12T1/from-which-earlier-hominin-did-homo-floresiensis-descend%23add-source) Where it fits Homo floresiensis, the origin of the Flores "hobbits" **From which earlier hominin did Homo floresiensis descend?** Key question · you're here [Did Homo floresiensis hunt Stegodon and use fire?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/homo-floresiensis/questions/QST0CZNMJJ63AEG/did-homo-floresiensis-hunt-stegodon-and-use-fire)Most likely · h. floresiensis scavenged carcasses after Komodo dragons and did not use fire [ Ask a question under this one ]