Scientists find prehistoric skeletons on Pacific island
Following for release at 1 p-m, Eastern time DENVER (AP) _ Scientists say they've discovered the bones of a prehistoric human dwarf species -- a species that lived on a remote Indonesian island even as modern man thrived. The people appear to have lived on the island of Flores somewhere between 12-thousand and 95-thousand years ago.
One adult female specimen was about three feet tall.
Researchers say the brains of the so-called Flores Man were about a quarter the size of those of Homo sapiens. Yet evidence suggests they made stone tools, lit fires and organized hunts.
Whether the species ever interacted with modern man is unknown. Geologic evidence suggests a volcanic eruption about 12-thousand years ago wiped out the species.
Details of the discovery appear in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.
(Preceding for release at 1 p-m, Eastern time)
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