How did Hominins Arrive on Flores?

Debbie Argue

One of the key questions that arose when Homo floresiensis was discovered on Flores Island, Indonesia, was how these hominins could have arrived on an island that has never been attached to a mainland. At the time, it was assumed that accidental sea crossings occurred, for example, floating on mats of vegetation dislodged after a cyclonic storm or tsunami. This view has persisted, but it has received scant critical evaluation. We now know of three islands with an early human presence: Flores, Luzon, and Sulawesi, and the question remains: how did hominins get to islands? I explore the likelihood that accidental sea crossings occurred, using Homo floresiensis’ arrival on Flores as a case study. My objective is to stimulate interest in this little explored aspect of human evolution.