Overview
- Two Nature papers published Wednesday report molecular identification of multiple Denisovan bone fragments from Bianfu Cave, including the first confirmed radius.
- The team combined morphological pre-screening with ZooMS proteomics and a diagnostic COL1A2 R996K collagen variant to efficiently triage tens of thousands of fragments and confirm species identity.
- Direct dates place the human-bearing layers in the Middle Pleistocene, roughly 167,000–143,000 years ago, and associate the bones with dense stone and bone tool assemblages and butchered large mammals.
- Anatomical analysis shows a mosaic of traits: the radius has a Neanderthal-like orientation but a cross-sectional shape nearer modern humans, skull fragments show cranial thickness like Homo heidelbergensis, and two teeth were identified as male.
- Bianfu Cave now stands as the most abundant Denisovan locality outside Denisova Cave, offering new context for Denisovan behavior and regional occupation and guiding future work to seek DNA and fuller skeletal reconstructions.