Extinct species Homo floresiensis discovered in Indonesia more than a decade ago vanished much earlier than previously estimated, suggests a new study. The study also stated that modern humans could be behind the extinction of this mysterious and diminutive species.

In 2003, researchers first discovered the signs of the primate in a cave in Flores, an island in Indonesia. After examining the species’ bones, they found that the species, dubbed ‘The Hobbit’ by the researchers, became extinct about 12,000 years ago. But now, the study stated that the Homo floresiensis had gone 50,000 years ago.

Homo floresiensis walked the earth a long time ago and researchers are still trying to figure out if they have an encounter with Homo sapiens. They were just 42 inches (106 cm) tall and had brain much similar to modern chimpanzees. Historians believe the species was capable of developing and using stone tools for their day-to-day business. They said the Homo floresiensis hunted pygmy elephants a long time ago.

The study published in journal Nature on Wednesday also suggested that the ancient species may have been driven to extinction by modern humans. Homo sapiens spread throughout the Indonesian islands caused extinction of these hobbit people. The advancement of civilization also became major reason of extinction of a number of other animal species, such as Komodo dragons, from the Flores Island. The study hasn’t revealed whether human ancestors killed Homo floresiensis, but stated that future researches may reveal how modern humans caused the extinction.

“The question is, 'Would the Hobbits have become extinct if humans had never made landfall on Flores?' and the answer is 'no’. We were likely the decisive factor in their demise, but we still need to find hard evidence to back up this hunch”, said Bert Roberts from the University of Wollongong.

For the study, researchers examined the hobbit bones that were measured to be 60,000 to 100,000 years old.