The face of Homo floresiensis: an investigation of scale

Abstract

The face of Homo floresiensis has been described as small in absolute and relative size, comparable to the condition observed in modern humans (Homo sapiens). It has even been claimed that LB1’s relative facial dimensions are broadly similar to other fossil hominin crania that have extremely small faces in relation to their cranial vaults, such as Asian Homo erectus and the Dali cranium. The idea that LB1 shares a proportionately small face with some but not all species in the genus Homo is a key component of the hypothesis that Homo floresiensis is an island-dwarfed descendant of Asian Homo erectus. Here I test two specific questions in terms of the relative external size/shape of LB 1’s facial skeleton. First, can LB 1’s relative facial size and shape be accommodated within the ranges of variation for a worldwide sample of normal, nonpathological, modern humans? [...]