Final answer:
The populations of small archaic humans found in Indonesia from 500,000-10,000 years ago are classified as Homo floresiensis. Known as 'the Hobbit', these individuals were about 3 feet tall and lived in large social groups on Flores Island.
Step-by-step explanation:
The populations of three foot tall archaic Homo found in Indonesia from 500,000-10,000 years ago are identified as Homo floresiensis. This species is also colloquially known as "the Hobbit" due to its small stature, with adults standing about 3 feet 7 inches tall. Homo floresiensis lived on Flores Island, and findings in Liang Bua Cave suggest they used fire for cooking and made tools, as evidenced by cutmarks on bones. These populations lived in large social groups and signified a complex and diverse genus Homo, especially in the unique evolutionary pressures of island environments. Recent discoveries like Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis continue to challenge and enrich our understanding of human evolution.