Ebugogo - flores hobbits human

Ebu Gogo is a human-like creature (or race of creatures) which appears in the mythology of the people at flores island, nusa tenggara timur, Indonesia, of similar mythological form to the leprechaun or elf. These “little people” are said to be about 3ft tall, covered in hair, pot-bellied and with ears that stick out. They are held to walk somewhat awkwardly and are often said to be “murmuring” in what is assumed to be their own language. It is also said by the islanders that the Ebu Gogo can repeat what is said to them in parrot-like fashion.In one language of Central Flores (Nage ethnic at Boawae subdistric, Ngada Regency) the name means “grandmother who eats anything” (or possibly “grandmother glutton”) from the words ebu “grandmother” and gogo “(s)he who eats anything”.

The legends relating to the Ebu Gogo are somewhat detailed and, like Hawaii’s menehunes, Scandinavia’s tomtar and dwarfs, they may represent a folk memory of the island’s previous inhabitants who were supplanted by the current population. Or, they may represent a supernatural understanding of the islanders’ deceased ancestors, along the lines of the Taotao Mona of Guam. However, no particular magical or mystical ability is attributed to the Ebu Gogo.

It is held by the people of Flores that the Ebu Gogo were alive at the time of the arrival of Dutch trading ships some 300 years ago, and some hold that they survived as recently as 100 years ago but are now no longer seen.

The discovery in 2003 on Flores of remains of a meter-tall hominid, Homo floresiensis, suggests a more literal interpretation of the Ebu Gogo stories. Human floresiensis survived at least until 13,000 years ago and probably survived longer. Scientists suspect it was extirpated by a volcanic eruption around 12,000 years ago, before the first evidence of Homo sapiens on Flores 11,000 years ago. However, the date of extinction of H. floresiensis is unknown.

It is questionable whether the folk memory of a people can record any clear or accurate details for a time on the order of 10,000 years, but a folk memory lasting a shorter time is plausible. Thus no one knows whether the Ebu Gogo stories describe the real hominids or are similar to other “little people” stories, which are found among almost all peoples throughout the world. Archaeologists are planning further investigations of Flores, including caves where the Ebu Gogo are said to have lived recently, and thus may shed light on this question.

An article in New Scientist, Vol 186 No 2504, gives the following account of folklore on Flores surrounding the ebu gogo: ” The Nage people of central Flores tell how, some 300 years ago, villagers disposed of the ebu gogo by tricking them into accepting gifts of palm fibre to make clothes. When the ebu gogo took the fibre into their cave, the villagers threw in a firebrand to set it alight. The story goes that all the occupants were killed, except perhaps for one pair, who fled into the deepest forest, and whose descendants may be living there still.”

The article goes on to say that such tales are common in Indonesia, according to anthropologist Gregory Forth. There are also legends about the ebu gogo kidnapping human children, hoping to learn from them how to cook. The children always easily outwit the ebu gogo in the tales.

A children’s story Ebu Gogo: Tales of Mini-Man has even been written which recounts the tale of how the Ebu Gogo may have interacted with the humans 18,000 years ago.

sources : Quickseeksee what the sun said below ;

“The Flores specimens are young enoughto contain DNA, providing a remarkable opportunity that has got researchers salivating.”However, there are suspicions the Hobbits may NOT actually be extinct.There have been reported sightings of 3ft tall humans across Indonesia. On Flores they are known Ebugogo.

Dr Henry Gee, senior editor of Nature, said: “Every Indonesian island has its Wild Man Of The Woods legend.

“It’s possible, though not likely, that some of these people still survive.”

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