Ancient Flores drought likely ended Homo floresiensis without direct human conflict
A long-term drought on Flores, inferred from stalagmite records and Stegodon tooth enamel, dried rivers and prey around Liang Bua, likely forcing Homo floresiensis to retreat and eventually vanish from Flores around 61,000 years ago; there is no evidence of direct contact with modern humans at the site, suggesting climate-driven ecological collapse rather than a violent extinction.