Homo floresiensis Hand, Articulated

KO-395-A $320.00

Articulated left hand of Homo floresiensis. A disarticulated version of the hand, as well as other H. floresiensis products can be found here. Due to the fragmentary nature of the find, missing elements are indicated with brass parts.

At the time of its discovery, H. floresiensis was the subject of much debate centering on whether it is a new human species, a pathological Homo sapiens, or a case of insular dwarfism of a Homo erectus population. However, studies using cladistic and morphological analysis suggest that Homo floresiensis is a separate species from Homo erectus and may share a common ancestor with Homo habilis, challenging the notion that Homo erectus was the only hominin to leave Africa before Homo sapiens did so about 180,000yrs ago.

The entire upper limb skeleton of Homo floresiensis exhibits a mosaic of primitive and derived (more human-like) features, providing a glimpse of a hominin that existed on the Indonesian island of Flores some 90,000 to 50,000 years ago. The hand and wrist of H. floresiensis resemble a more primitive morphology than that of modern humans. Specifically, some of the bones of the wrist (the trapezoid, scaphoid and capitate) resemble those found in African apes and australopithecines. Additionally, H. floresiensis was found alongside evidence of stone flaking technology, supporting the hypothesis that hominins with primitive wrist morphology were able to make and use stone tools.

The Bone Clones® Fossil Hominid line is composed of discoveries from anatomically modern humans, archaic humans, early Homo, early hominins, and other hominids. The majority of the casts in this line have been recreated by our team of anatomical sculptors. Some are reconstructions made by anthropology professionals using fragmentary elements from original discoveries and extrapolating the missing parts from those (i.e. Neanderthal skeleton).