HOBBIT CAVE

Visit Liang Bua Cave near Ruteng Flores - world-famous archaeological site where Homo Floresiensis (Flores Hobbit) skeleton was discovered in 2003. Must-see historical cave from Labuan Bajo.

Liang Bua Cave - The Hobbit Cave of Flores

Did you know Flores once had real-life Hobbits? Discover Liang Bua Cave, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world.

The limestone Liang Bua cave, where the remains of the Flores 'hobbit' were famously found in 2003, is about 14km north of Ruteng. This is an attraction you are probably only going to visit if you are interested in human archaeology as it is the site where Homo Floresiensis was discovered.

The Story of The Hobbit:

In 2003, archaeologists excavated a nearly complete, small-statured skeleton, LB1, in Liang Bua cave. At first, the skeleton looked like a child's. The female hominin would have stood just 3.5 feet tall (1 meter) in life with small cranial capacity of 380 cm3. Researchers dubbed it Homo floresiensis after the island Flores and nicknamed them "hobbits" after Tolkien's books.

Homo floresiensis is an extinct, diminutive hominin species discovered in the Late Pleistocene deposits. Excavations have yielded evidence for an endemic human species that occupied the cave between approximately 95,000 to 17,000 years ago, and became extinct around 50,000 years ago - just before Homo sapiens arrived.

What to See Inside:

The decorative stalagmites and stalactites inside the large 1,300m2 cave creates a lasting impression. Length 50 meters, limestone geology. Archaeologists believe that the lip along the entrance permitted sediment to build up as water flowed through, sealing in human and animal remains - including giant rodents and dwarf Stegodon.

Local guides, whose service is included in your 30,000Rp entry fee, will meet you and explain the history.

How to Get There:
Liang Bua is located in the northern part of Ruteng, driving towards Reo, turn to Rua road. From Labuan Bajo, it's a very mountainous & winding journey (4 hours) - not for those prone to car sickness but great view of life on Flores. Most visitors stay overnight at Ruteng then drive 40 minutes north to the cave. Road last few miles is rough.

Combine with Todo Village and Spider Web Rice Fields in a Flores overland tour!

Keywords: Liang Bua Cave, Hobbit Cave Flores, Homo Floresiensis, Ruteng Cave