ONE of the most spectacular and controversial discoveries in half a century, the existence of fossilised tiny humans dubbed hobbits, was explained at a James Cook University lecture yesterday.

Australian co-leader of the international research team on hobbits, Prof Mike Morwood spoke about the ancient human cousins, Homo floresienses, and the impact their discovery had on evolution theories.

"It means the first species out of Africa was most probably not Homo erectus," Prof Morwood, from the Universities of New England and Wollongong, said.

He said criticisms and alternate explanations for the hobbit remains, found in Indonesia in 2003, would soon fade.

The research by Prof Morwood’s team suggests the tiny humans were hair-less and dark-skinned, with small heads and knee-length arms.

They grew to about 1m in height, and are believed to have died out in a volcanic eruption 12,000 years ago.

The hobbits had the ability to hunt and use fire and tools, and may have been capable of travelling at short sea distances by bamboo raft.

Prof Morwood is expected to discuss possible research collaborations with JCU during his visit to the Far North.

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