Evidence and extinction: The possibility of another hominin sharing our planet

Abstract

This article explores the possibility that Homo sapiens may not be the only surviving species of the Homo genus. The study is sparked by the discovery of Homo floresiensis, a small-bodied hominin found in Indonesia, and its resemblance to ‘ape-men’ described by local people on Flores Island. Through extensive ethnographic research in the Lio region of Flores, the author finds that local accounts of these ‘ape-men’ pre-date scientific discovery and closely align with it. The article challenges the scientific community's scepticism towards local folklore as credible evidence, citing instances where local knowledge has historically preceded scientific discovery. The author argues that the most straightforward explanation for the convergence of local accounts and fossil evidence is the continued existence of a species closely related to Homo floresiensis. The study calls for re-evaluating what constitutes evidence and opens the possibility that we may not be the only surviving hominins.