It has been nearly 20 years since the bones of a humanoid species were found on the Indonesian island of Flores, and according to one researcher, there may be more than ancient bones.
In an essay for The Scientist magazine, Gregory Forth explains why he believes Homo floresiensis, as they were called by the late anthropologist Mike Morwood.
When Morwood first reported his findings, the scientific world was awed. It was similar to the discovery of a space alien, according to Forth.
The aim of the book was to find the best explanation for the Lio accounts. The best way to explain what they said was that a non-sapiens hominin has been on Flores for a long time.
In Lio mythology, humans can transform into other species as part of moving into new environments and adopting new ways of life, according to his description of his fieldwork.
The Lio people find the ape-man's appearance to be completely human, which is why Forth leaves the details of this supposedly uncontacted humanoid species to be read in his book.
He stumbles onto an indictment of anthropology as a whole, which many critics have rightfully called out for its imperialist history of racist harm.
Paleontology and other life scientists would do well to incorporate such Indigenous knowledge into continuing investigations of hominin evolution in Indonesia and elsewhere.
The researcher may not have a smoking gun, but his assessment of his field is spot on.
There is an opinion that another species of hinnin may still be alive.
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