http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/07/hobbit-indonesia-primates-research
Summary:
The bones of diminutive people from the Indonesian island of Flores, which were first believed to be simply modern pygmies, were apparently a distinct human species. The people, at 1 meter tall and 30 kg, whose discovery was first announced in 2004, are believed to have inhabited the island 8000 years ago. Scientists say that there is new evidence now, found in the analysis of their lower limbs, which seems to point out that these “hobbits” belonged to a new species of primitive humans. Also, it seems now, that contrary to what was previously reported, features such as the small brain, primitive shoulders and wrists are not likely to be simply a consequence of “island dwarfing”. Homo Floresiensis (as the species is formally known), was possibly descended not from Homo Erectus, as was previously thought, but from another, more primitive hominid ancestor. A research team led by William Jungers, an American paleoanthropologist, concluded that "the foot of Homo Floresiensis exhibits a broad array of primitive features that are not seen in modern humans of any body size".
Comment:
Honestly, I did not know much about the subject beyond what I saw in movies, where pygmies were depicted as little cannibals running through the jungle attacking the heroes. It is interesting to know though, that our general evolution also had alternate paths. Knowing only the basics of the theory, I understand that we developed throughout the millennia, going through several different stages of evolution. Now we hear that apparently there was at least this one case where the evolution took a different turn. It seems logical when you think about it though, that just as we don’t all look alike all over the world, of course there were differences during our whole development too. This all may seem incredibly obvious to anyone who paid attention during history class in elementary school, but I’ve always had a selective memory.
