Human Evolution: Discuss the significance of the recent discovery of homo floresiensis for paleoanthropology.

Homo Floresiensis is a hominid species whose remains were discovered on the island of Flores in 2003. Although it's exact identity and origin are in dispute, H.Floresiensis was considered sufficiently anatomically different to constitute a new species. It's discovery has generated debate over hominid culture and dispersal. Most significantly it has effected uncertainty about the path of "modern human" evolution as well as the relationship between physical characters e.g. encephalisation, height etc and 'intelligence'. …

…by the fossil (LB1) presents a paleoanthropological conundrum, where it's exact position in the evolutionary tree is in dispute. Some researchers believe it to be a dwarf form of H.Erectus or modern humans whilst other researchers believe it to be a completely unique species, which shared an ancestor with H.Erectus. Thus perhaps it's greatest significance is in the fact that it outlines that the homo genus has much greater plasticity than once thought.