Final answer:
LB 1, part of Homo floresiensis, dated between 100,000 to 60,000 years ago, precedes the first Homo sapiens in Australia by up to 50,000 years. It exhibits unique traits like flat long feet and more elbow mobility. The discovery underscores the diversity within Homo species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The geological age of LB 1, the partial skeleton of Homo floresiensis, is estimated to be between 100,000 to 60,000 years ago. This timing places H. floresiensis well before the earliest known evidence of modern Homo sapiens in Australia, which is approximately 65,000 to 50,000 years ago. H. floresiensis is often referred to as "the Hobbit" due to its small size. These findings suggest that multiple Homo species, including H. floresiensis and H. luzonensis, were present in Southeast Asia at the same time as or even before the first humans reached Australia.
Not only was H. floresiensis smaller in stature, but it also exhibited a mix of traits including a lack of a chin, thicker leg bones, flat and relatively long feet, and more elbow joint mobility indicating possible tree climbing adaptations. All these factors suggest a diverse and complex genus Homo, especially considering the unique evolutionary pressures found in island environments. The discovery of H. luzonensis on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, which is dated to at least 50,000-67,000 years ago, adds to the understanding of hominin diversity, with a combination of australopithecine and Homo characteristics.