In 2003, on the Indonesian island of Flores, fossil skeletons of a miniature species of humanoid were discovered. These skeletons were 18,000 years old, which meant that these “tiny people” co-existed with us not so long ago. Scientists at first thought these skeletons represented deformed modern humans, but its now becoming clear that these beings were a distinct and new species of humanity. They are called Homo floresiensis, but in the news they are referred by their popular name…”hobbits”.
‘Hobbit’ Fossils Represent A New Species, Concludes Anthropologist
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217124418.htm
When I was a child, I read J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Ring Trilogy with fascination. If only such beings as elves, dwarves and hobbits could have really existed, I would think to myself. What a more wonderful world we would live in. Tolkien’s imaginary Middle-Earth existed in pre-history, far in the distant past. Reading the books long ago, I would wish I could live in such a world as depicted.
What is ironic is that perhaps Middle-Earth may not be so far from reality! A race of small people who lived in recent prehistory is now a fact. Who can say they only lived on the island of Flores? Mythology and fairy stories are filled with tales of a “little people”. Could these “hobbits” have lived around the world and have inspired many of the fairy myths?
Toss into this speculation the idea of a prehistoric civilization that existed before recorded history. An example of such speculation is Graham Hancock’s book “Fingerprints of the Gods”. Featured are such compelling ideas like the Sphinx of Egypt is actually over 10,000 years old. Ancient maps exist that reveal details about the world that was unknown, such as in the Piri Reis map. Tolkien even borrowed the idea of Atlantis for “The Silmarillion” and The Fall of Numenor.
It could be possible that there existed some version of a Middle-Earth long ago. A world were different species of humans co-existed with a prehistoric civilization, long since vanished. I like that idea. Even just the possibility of such a world makes me smile. Then again, the idea of faerie alone brings up even more possibilities.
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