A Riddle from Liang Bua

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

An archeological excavation is conducted in Liang Bua, North Rahong district, Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Saturday (3/8/2019). The excavation at Liang Bua is a continuation of the discovery of fossils of Homo floresiensis, a small relative of modern humans, at a depth of 6 meters in 2003. The Homo floresiensis fossils are estimated to be 50,000 to 190,000 years old.

Flores was among the islands in Nusa Tenggara who grabbed the attention of British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. Other than its endemic fauna, the island’s Homo floresiensis still leaves behind unresolved mysteries.

At the mouth of a giant cave on Saturday (3/8/2019), dozens of people – mostly men – were observing marble-sized pieces of soil from an excavation. Several were diligently taking notes while others were busy inside the digging site.