Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis are not temporally exceptional relative to Homo erectus

• Published in: Journal of quaternary science Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 463 - 470
• Main Authors: Roberts, David L., Jarić, Ivan, Lycett, Stephen J., Flicker, Dylan, Key, Alastair
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2023; Wiley
• Subjects: Archaeology and Prehistory; extreme order statistics; Flores; Gumbel domain of attraction; Hominids; hominin; Homo erectus; Homo floresiensis; Homo luzonensis; Humanities and Social Sciences; Islands; Luzon; Philippines; Refugia; southeast Asia; Speciation; species association; Sympatric populations; extreme order statistics, Flores, Gumbel domain of attraction, hominin, Luzon, Philippines, southeast Asia, species association
• ISSN: 0267-8179; 1099-1417
• DOI: 10.1002/jqs.3498

ABSTRACT The presence of Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis in southeast Asia 90,000 to 60,000 years ago is considered surprising by many, and has been used to support their designation as unique species and the islands they were discovered on as refugia. Here, we statistically test the null hypothesis that H. floresiensis and H. luzonensis represent temporally uninterrupted occurrences relative to Homo erectus. We do this using the ‘surprise test’ for the exceptionality of a new record. Results demonstrate that H. floresiensis and H. luzonensis are not temporally distinct relative to H. erectus. Their late persistence should, therefore, not be considered surprising, they cannot reliably be inferred to be outside of H. erectus’ temporal range, and – temporally – the islands of Luzon and Flores are not supported as refugia. Similarly, late H. erectus at Ngandong, Java, is not demonstrated to be temporally distinct relative to earlier, principally mainland‐Asian, H. erectus. Further, we demonstrate that substantial numbers of fossil discoveries would be needed before H. floresiensis and H. luzonensis are outside of H. erectus’ expected temporal range. If H. floresiensis and H. luzonensis are descended from H. erectus populations, our results point toward either geographic processes of allopatric speciation or behavioural processes leading to a sympatric speciation event.