Homo Floresiensis Uncovered

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more There are no special requirements for studying this course but it might be of special interest to those considering retraining or further study in this area - whether it’s postgraduate study or study after leaving school. You can use the hashtag #FLhobbit to talk about this course on social media.

• The discovery of Homo floresiensis and its international significance (including local and international perceptions)
• Controversies surrounding the discovery of Homo floresiensis and the heated debate over its biological status
• The multifaceted evolutionary history of human origins
• The significance and multidisciplinary nature of modern archaeological science and its approaches for excavating and examining evidence
• The basis and application of scientific techniques used to investigate the behaviour of the hobbit, its period of existence and the environment in which it lived.
• Evidence gathered through examination of the stratigraphy of archaeological sites, faunal remains and stone tool artefacts
• The role and application of a range of dating methods used to shed light on the chronology of the life and times of Homo floresiensis
• The impact of archaeochemistry techniques for extracting evidence from artefacts
• Characteristics of hobbit skeletal remains and how these compare to modern humans
• Evolutionary implications of the discovery of Homo floresiensis
• Current projects and research opportunities addressing unanswered questions about Homo floresiensis and human evolution