Why isn't there more excitement around DU about the "hobbits?"

[Melodybe]

I mean we find a whole new species of humanoid and narely a mention here at DU.

I guess my degree in Anthropology makes this more interesting but come on, they found a villiage of little tiny people that had large brows, were up-right, made stone tools, used fire, hunted small elephants, and co-existed at the same time as early humans.

This is so big and no one seems to care. They are called Homo floresiensis or "hobbits" for short.

They are the smallest species of humanoid ever found.

It is just such a huge finding, it is hard to imagine that we have gone so long without knowing about them.

I personally feel that it is another nail in the coffin of creationism.

Anywho I think it is very cool, here is a link:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041028144857.htm

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

1. DU or not, we're still Americans!

Which means we think "Lord of the Rings" is historical fiction.

Hence, the lack of surprise.

just kidding... I hope!

[qnr]

2. maybe in the science forums? I haven't visited them in a few days

Haven't followed either that story or the Titan story very much, which is absolutely amazing, since I love items like that. Just been a busy week I suppose.

[charlie]

3. There were threads

in the last day or two. You missed them.

[Hello_Kitty]

4. After Nov. 2 I'm on board I promise

I'll care about the little people then. Right now all I care about is the election.

[juajen]

5. I heard about it first on DU

There has been plenty of excitement around my house full of anthropology and history people. We also love Tolkein, so we are now waiting for the trolls (you know the kind I mean) and the elves to be found. I absolutely love this.

[Kilroy003]

16. Me too!

I love elves. Most trolls scare me. That one David Brooks troll was cool though. You know, the one that hung out with whats-his-pike-for-a-hand-name.

Man, my memory sucks.

[coloradodem2005]

6. I have heard about them on the radio.

I will definitely be more interested after the election. THough I find it interesting that they came from the vicinity of New Zealand, even if they didn't come from New Zealand itself. Interesting since that is where LOTR was filmed.

[madrchsod]

7. read that yesterday

yes that is very cool..i tried anthropology but the couldn't`t pass the biology,so i changed my major to archelogy..one day i actually will go back to college and finish my degree

[pelagius]

8. Can't be registered, can't vote. I'm all GOTV. Will be excited 11/3 n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

9. It's just another name for midgets, right?

[Lexingtonian]

10. 'cause we're still fighting off Homo Conservamoronensis

Much as we're interested in preservation of species in general, the Conservamorons have overpopulated and presently must be culled back to numbers that can be sustained.

Then we'll get around to that species. I have to admit I find obscure/extinct languages and cultures- the thoughts and imaginations of groups of beings- far more interesting than distinctive physiological characteristics, though.

[ibegurpard]

17. Nice way of putting it.

Unfortunately, it seems like my every waking hour is consumed with thinking and worrying about the state of our union.
Hopefully we send Bush packing and I can breathe again.

[Dogmudgeon]

11. Even more so since they are only 18,000 years old

They were less intelligent than humans were, but the human (H. sapiens) presence in Indonesia has been traced to 40,000 years ago, so co-existence is certain.

So modern humans shared the world with at least two non-Homo sapiens species of humans -- Neanderthal people and Flores people. I suspect we'll find a few more. In southern China, for instance, there are hundreds of reports from before the Mao era of villages of very small, anatomically "strange" people. And most of Central Asia is still poorly explored by anthropologists.

Then there are the puzzling Gigantopithecines; anomalous non-Amerindian remains in the New World; the Wondjina peoples of Australia, who disappeared but are still remembered by the aboriginal folk of that continent; the north-polar-dwelling seagoing Red Clay peoples, who settled the entire north circumpolar world between the end of the Ice Age and the Younger-Dryas period; and the tall, not-really-Oriental-Asian people from Japan who were said to pre-date the Jomon peoples.

And the negrito Pygmies of Africa -- well-studied by Cavalli-Sforza, and completely unique genetically. The modern Basques and Burukashi are also enigmatic, though indisputably Homo sapiens.

Cryptozoology has long been a field shared by crank and scientist alike. Who needs legends of Atlantis when there are so many human mysteries lacking only committed students of humanity?

--bkl

[kispoko]

27. not true bareknuckledliberal

-Then there are the puzzling Gigantopithecines; anomalous non-Amerindian remains in the New World


what makes you think they were non-amerindian? because of their supposed anomalous nature?

the giants found in the mounds (charleston/kanawha valley most notably) were relatives..... and some were still among us long into when europeans came by.


colonists knew of a woman related to hokoleskwa (cornstalk) who had her own village, and even fought in the battle of point pleasant, that was known as "tall soldier woman," though that's not what her name, na'helema (you will see it referenced as 'nonhelema'), meant.


she would've given any nba forward a run for their millions.



and she, by any means, certainly wasn't the only one, male or female. oral tradition still speaks of the giants.

[Dogmudgeon]

45. Those were two separate "anomalies"

I think you may have mixed the two; I should have turned each into its own sentence.

Gigantopithecines are one class of anomaly, and there are also non-Amerindian remains. I wasn't aware that giants were so common in the Americas, either. My reading on pre-European American archeology and culture has gone woefully neglected.

I should qualify the second part of the "Amerindian remains" statement -- the anomalies don't match what we currently identify as "Amerindian". Of course, our information on paleo-Americans is still very incomplete, and with the destruction of the Indian peoples, most of the folk knowlege has been lost.

I'm sure we -- the scientific world, and Euro-American culture alike -- will have many more surprises as we slowly recover the wisdom we so stupidly destroyed.

--bkl

[Chovexani]

12. Well, there is this little thing on Tuesday

:P

Seriously I am excited about it but there are more pressing things on my mind right now.

[leftofthedial]

13. it's way cool

thanks for the link

many distractions right now though

[Crunchy Frog]

14. I have seen a number of threads here about it.

It certainly made my day, but with the election so close, anything not election related tends to get drowned out. Also, things move so quickly that threads disappear into the ether almost immediately.

As for being a nail in the coffin of creationism, creationism is already dead and buried, it's just that creationists refuse to accept reality no matter what evidence is there.

Actually, the next time I have an encounter with a creationist, it would be kind of fun to use their own system of logic on them and argue that new scientific discoveries have proven that Tolkien was right and the Bible was wrong.

I always vastly preferred Tolkiens mythology to that of the Bible anyway.

[DELUSIONAL]

15. Physical Anthro & Cultural Anthro converge

So many cultures have an oral history of Little People.

Hawaii is one such culture with many stories of a mysterious little people -- now did they carry that talk-story with them as they migrated from Pacific Island -- from a cultural tradition where the Little People did exist.

[depakid]

24. Of course, many of the same cultures have stories

of giants too!

(just thought I'd play the devil's advocate) :evilgrin:

[G_j]

39. Little People of the Cherokee

*Perhaps no Native American tribe has more stories about 'Little People' than the Cherokee.

---------
http://www.manataka.org/page77.html

Little People of the Cherokee

The Little People of the Cherokee, called "Yundi Tsundi", are a race of Spirits who live in rock caves on the mountain side. They are little fellows and ladies reaching almost to your knees. They are well shaped and handsome, and their hair so long it almost touches the ground. They are very helpful, kind-hearted, and great wonder workers. They love music and spend most of their time drumming, singing, and dancing. They have a very gentle nature, but do not like to be disturbed.

Sometimes their drums are heard in lonely places in the mountains, but it is not safe to follow it, for they do not like to be disturbed at home, and they will throw a spell over the stranger so that he is bewildered and loses his way, and even if he does at last get back to the settlement, he is dazed from then on.

Sometimes they come near a house at night and the people inside hear them talking, but people must not go outside, and in the morning they will find the corn has been gathered or the field cleared as if a whole force of men had been at work. If anyone should go out to watch, he would die.

When a hunter finds anything in the woods, such as a knife or trinket, he must say, 'Little People, I would like to take this" because it may belong to them, and if it does not ask their permission, the Little People will throw stones at him as he goes home.

..more..

[prayin4rain]

41. How cute, I have never heard of this, makes ya wonder doesn't it?

[Sugarbleus]

18. I only just learned of this about 30 mins ago.

Tiny heads the size of grapefruits? Wow Pretty interesting indeed!

[depakid]

19. Hey! I appreciate it!

I've a serious softspot for paleoanthropology and my world was just rocked by the accounts of the "little lady of flores" in Nature. Breathed new life into multi-regionalism in Asia, don't you think?

http://www.nature.com/news/2004/041025/full/4311029a.html

I've always held the DNA guys a little suspect, anyway. I don't accept their central premise- that they have (or can) accurately calculate an average mitochondrial DNA mutation rate. I say hogwash to that- especially when it conflicts with the fossil morphology.

Then, of course, there's Mungo.... ;-)

[anarchy1999]

20. oh jeez! You've got to be kidding me.

THIS MUST BE BIG. not!

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[anarchy1999]

22. No comment.

"Do you just wander about the forums metaphorically pissing on threads you don't deem "important" enough?".

Never have seen you "Spider".

Contact others, That's all I do is just wander around, "metaphorically speaking".

Unbelievable. DU is such a treat these days, you just never know.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[anarchy1999]

25. And this is what I stand accused of.

- log·or·rhe·ic

One entry found for logorrhea.


Main Entry: log·or·rhea
Pronunciation: "lo-g&-'rE-&, "lä-
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin
: excessive and often incoherent talkativeness or wordiness
- log·or·rhe·ic /-'rE-ik/ adjective

log•or•rhe•a

Pronunciation: (lô"gu-rE'u, log"u-),
—n.
1. pathologically incoherent, repetitious speech.
2. incessant or compulsive talkativeness; wearisome volubility.

[anarchy1999]

26. And this is what I stand accused of.

- log·or·rhe·ic

One entry found for logorrhea.


Main Entry: log·or·rhea
Pronunciation: "lo-g&-'rE-&, "lä-
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin
: excessive and often incoherent talkativeness or wordiness
- log·or·rhe·ic /-'rE-ik/ adjective

log•or•rhe•a

Pronunciation: (lô"gu-rE'u, log"u-),
—n.
1. pathologically incoherent, repetitious speech.
2. incessant or compulsive talkativeness; wearisome volubility.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JoFerret]

36. It is big

- unfortunately not as big as the determined desire to be uninformed and ignorant. Science matters.

[Blue Gardener]

28. I think it's very exciting!

I am truly fascinated by the whole thing. The whole "Lost World" feel to it is very interesting.

[Thtwudbeme]

29. This is not AnthropologyUnderground.com

I imagine there is lots of excitement about the Hobbits--but, the election is next week.

Stephanie

[anarchy1999]

30. Don't "hobbits" belong over in the Lounge?

Mods where are you?

[anarchy1999]

31. I'll suggest again, Mods, I think "hobbits" belong in the Lounge.

n/t

[Spider Jerusalem]

32. Actually, it belongs in the Environment/Energy/Science forum...

since anthropology falls under "science". And don't you know how to use the alert button? Multiple messages saying the same thing are really a bit tiresome. Why do you care, anyway?

[jdonaldball]

33. Trrricksey Hobbitses!

Tricksey Hobbitses! They tells lies, gollum, gollum.
Sincerely yours,
Smeagol,
Lurking Freeper

[depakid]

34. I think the heading for this forum is GENERAL DISCUSSION

and despite the fact that some of you don't appreciate the story- it's one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the past several decades.

[Bonobo]

37. Dude, I am excited as hell!! No kidding! Biggest news in my lifetime.

[Orangepeel]

38. this is, like, the 6th thread on it

It's an interesting topic (which is why I clicked), but not very political.

[Magrittes Pipe]

40. Yes, but did these "researchers" find the Ring?

Without it, Middle Earth is lost. :cry:

[Crunchy Frog]

46. I expect the volcano erupted in response to the Ring

being tossed into it, so even though it caused the extinction of the Hobbits, at least the Ring is no longer a menace.:)

[Kazak]

42. Were they Democrats?

But yeah, it pokes yet another large hole in the creationism meme.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

43. Degree in Anthropology?.................................

so you're unemployed as well? BA - Anthropology, WVU 2002.

[BiggJawn]

44. Uh, I'm a little more concerned with a certain Sub-Human right now?

After Help Gets Here, then I'll have some synapses to spare for Frodo.

[SarahB]

47. Most definitely!

Hobbits rock! :headbang: