News Archaeology

Ancient stone tools raise tantalizing questions over who colonized Sulawesi

One theory suggests hobbits or hobbit relatives floated to the Indonesian island

stone artifacts

ISLAND ROCK  These stone artifacts found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi were made by hominids that somehow made ocean crossings from mainland Asia by 194,000 years ago, and probably much earlier, scientists report. 

Erick Setiabudi

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Stone tool‒makers ventured from Southeast Asia to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi deep in the Stone Age, far earlier than previously thought and probably before Homo sapiens originated in Africa 200,000 years ago, researchers say.