Hobbits to Neanderthals: Coexisting with Ancient Humans
Most people don’t realize we’re not the first Homo genus on this planet. Adding to that, they don’t even know Homo sapiens sapiens lived along side about ten different hominids that look similar to us — some with slightly bigger brains and bodies, and some with slightly smaller brains and bodies.
There’s been over thirty human-like species on Earth. This prehistoric epoch, far from being a Homo sapiens sapiens-only era, was marked by a rich diversity of hominids.
Let me take you on a quick journey…
Don’t worry. It’ll be quick and rather painless.
Early Homo sapiens, our direct ancestors, were distinct from the modern Homo sapiens sapiens. These archaic humans were more robust with heavier brow ridges, while modern humans feature a more rounded skull and a generally lighter build.
Among the most notable hominids that coexisted with early Homo sapiens sapiens (us) were the Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), primarily residing in Europe and Western Asia. Known for their adaptability to colder climates, recent findings suggest Neanderthals may have been more intellectually advanced than previously thought. Intriguingly, genetic studies indicate that interbreeding occurred between Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens sapiens, leaving a legacy in the DNA of some modern human populations.
Similarly, the Denisovans, a group primarily known through genetic evidence, inhabited Asia and may have also interbred with Homo sapiens and Homo sapiens sapiens, contributing to the genetic patchwork of certain contemporary human groups.
In Indonesia, the discovery of Homo floresiensis, often called the “Hobbit” due to their small stature, has challenged traditional perceptions of hominid development, suggesting a diverse range of physical traits among ancient human relatives. Again, they lived with us, and many tales from Flores have had them in their legends for thousands upon thousands of years, living amongst their tribes and on their own, sometimes stealing food, other times playing tricks on the taller hominids, and playing games with their children. And who knows? Maybe they partied with one another on a few occasions?
The Philippines recently added to this diverse picture with the discovery of Homo luzonensis, offering new insights into the migration and adaptation patterns of early hominids in the region, where they lived alongside Homo sapiens sapiens in various areas.
Homo erectus, one of the most enduring hominid species, is known to have existed for nearly two million years, demonstrating a remarkable adaptability and survival skill set across a ton of geographies. Homo sapiens sapiens, on the other hand, have only inhabited this Earth for hundreds of thousands of years.
Then we got Homo heidelbergensis and Homo rhodesiensis, species that possibly stand at the crossroads of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens evolution, primarily found in Africa and parts of Europe. Again, living and probably interacting with what we call modern-day humans.
I’ll stop there, but there’s more. It’s a world not unlike Lord of the Rings. I mean, include Wooly Mammoths and Sabertooth Tigers and American Lions and American Cheetahs, bears taller and wider and stronger than your ordinary bear, along with giant Sloths and late stage dinosaurs that could be confused with dragons, you’ve got yourself a damn good historical fiction where truth intermingles with fiction.
Nonetheless, the coexistence of multiple hominid species, some of which share DNA with Homo sapiens and Homo sapiens sapiens, paints a vivid picture of a prehistoric world far more intermixed than previously understood. It challenges our perception of human uniqueness and underscores the shared journey of humankind with other close relatives in the human… um… saga.
Yeah, saga is a good word.
Heck, I might look into making this somewhat of a book someday. Fictional, of course. Look me up on Amazon, under the author: Brandon Ellis. You might find something you like.