Before Farming

Modern human behaviour and the implications of small-bodied hominin finds from the Late Pleistocene of Flores, Indonesia

Before Farming (2005), 2005, (4), 1–6.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/bfarm.2005.4.2
Language
English
Pages
6

Abstract

Recent publications by various authors have presented three alternative views about the taxonomy and anatomy of recently recovered hominin remains from the island of Flores, Indonesia. No matter what the exact taxonomy, Homo floresiensis exhibits an incredible range of complex modern human behaviour for an individual with such a small cranial capacity. If we are to accept that the archaeological material associated with H floresiensis resulted from H floresiensis activity, and that the interpretations of the material by the H floresiensis team are correct, then there will be an enormous impact on current thinking about the evolution of modern behaviour. The interpretations force us to question what defines an archaic or modern human in relation to other creatures and in terms of certain characteristic behaviours that have archaeological signatures. There are profound implications for archaeology as a discipline as well as our understanding of human potential and creativity in relation to brain size and structure.

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Taçon, Paul