Ebu Gogo is a human-like creature (or race of creatures) which appears in the mythology of the people of the island of Flores, Indonesia, of similar mythological form to the leprechaun or elf. These "little people" are said to be about one meter tall, covered in hair, pot-bellied and with ears that stick out. They are held to walk somewhat awkwardly and are often said to be "murmuring" in what is assumed to be their own language. It is also said by the islanders that the Ebu Gogo can repeat what is said to them in parrot-like fashion.

In one language of Central Flores, the name means "grandmother who eats anything" (or possibly "grandmother glutton") from the words ebu "grandmother" and gogo "(s)he who eats anything".

The legends relating to the Ebu Gogo are somewhat detailed and, like Hawaii's menehunes, Scandinavia's tomtar and dwarfs, they may represent a folk memory of the island's previous inhabitants who were supplanted by the current population. Or, they may represent a supernatural understanding of the islanders' deceased ancestors, along the lines of the Taotao Mona of Guam. However, no particular magical or mystical ability is attributed to the Ebu Gogo.

It is held by the people of Flores that the Ebu Gogo were alive at the time of the arrival of Dutch trading ships some 300 years ago, and some hold that they survived as recently as 100 years ago but are now no longer seen.

The discovery in 2003 on Flores of remains of a meter-tall hominid, Homo floresiensis, suggests a more literal interpretation of the Ebu Gogo stories. H. floresiensis survived at least until 13,000 years ago and probably survived longer. Scientists suspect it was extirpated by a volcanic eruption around 12,000 years ago, before the first evidence of Homo sapiens on Flores 11,000 years ago. However, the date of extinction of H. floresiensis is unknown.

It is questionable whether the folk memory of a people can record any clear or accurate details for a time on the order of 10,000 years, but a folk memory lasting a shorter time is plausible. Thus no one knows whether the Ebu Gogo stories describe the real hominids or are similar to other "little people" stories, which are found among almost all peoples throughout the world. Archeologists are planning further investigations of Flores, including caves where the Ebu Gogo are said to have lived recently, and thus may shed light on this question.

External links

• National Geographic News article on H. floresiensis