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3w ago

Denisovan Jawbone Found Off Taiwan Expands Understanding of Ancient Humans

Advanced protein analysis confirms the fossil as Denisovan, revealing their adaptability to diverse climates and extending their known range to subtropical Asia.

Image
The life reconstruction of a robust male Denisovan, an extinct archaic human, walking under the bright sun of Taiwan, is seen in this illustration obtained by Reuters on April 10, 2025. Cheng-Han Sun/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
Photograph of the right side of the mandible
The shallow sea is visible at low tide in this coastal view in the Penghu Islands, a group of islands in the Taiwan Strait, where the fossil was discovered on the seabed.

Overview

  • The Penghu 1 jawbone, recovered from the seafloor off Taiwan, has been definitively identified as belonging to a male Denisovan through paleoproteomic analysis.
  • This discovery marks the first confirmed Denisovan fossil found in subtropical Asia, expanding their known geographic range beyond Siberia and the Tibetan Plateau.
  • Protein sequencing identified two Denisovan-specific amino acid variants, as well as a marker indicating the fossil's male sex, despite the absence of recoverable DNA.
  • Dating challenges persist, with the fossil estimated to be from one of two periods: 10,000–70,000 years ago or 130,000–190,000 years ago.
  • The finding enhances the sparse Denisovan fossil record, providing new insights into their robust anatomy and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions.