Archive · 8 Aug 2025
Ancient Stone Tools Found: Early Human Relatives on Sulawesi
Scientists found old tools on an Indonesian island called Sulawesi.
These tools are between 1 and 1.5 million years old, meaning someone was living there a long, long time ago!
These weren't humans like us, but a different type of human relative, maybe even like the 'hobbit' humans found on another island.
These ancient people used the tools to cut and scrape things.
This discovery is important because it changes what scientists thought about how early humans moved around Southeast Asia, and it also might link populations between the two islands.
Stone tools dating back 1-1.5 million years were discovered on Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The tools suggest the island was inhabited by an unknown human relative.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions about early hominin activity in Southeast Asia.
Researchers speculate the inhabitants could be related to 'hobbit' humans (Homo floresiensis).
The tools, made by chipping stones, indicate the presence of tool-producing hominins on Sulawesi.
- Who
- An unknown human relative, possibly related to Homo floresiensis.
- What
- Discovery of ancient stone tools.
- When
- Tools date back to between 1 million and 1.5 million years ago.
- Where
- Sulawesi, Indonesia.
- Why
- To understand the timeline of hominin activity in Southeast Asia and potential links to other species.
- Location
- Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Tool Age
- 1-1.5 million years old
- Tool Type
- Flaked stone tools
- Possible Species
- Unknown human relative, potentially Homo floresiensis
- Discovery Led by
- Budianto Hakim