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3w ago

Taiwanese Jawbone Confirmed as Denisovan Fossil, Expanding Their Known Range

Advanced protein analysis identifies the Penghu 1 jawbone as belonging to a male Denisovan, revealing their adaptability to diverse climates and extending their geographic range to subtropical Taiwan.

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.
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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, dredged from Taiwan's Penghu Channel, has been confirmed as Denisovan using paleoproteomic techniques that identified unique protein markers.
  • This discovery marks the first Denisovan fossil found in subtropical Taiwan, expanding their known habitat beyond Siberia and the Tibetan Plateau.
  • Analysis of the jawbone revealed robust morphology, with large molars and a sturdy mandible, distinguishing Denisovans from Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.
  • The fossil belonged to a male Denisovan, as indicated by Y-chromosome peptides detected in the dental enamel.
  • The exact age of the fossil remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 190,000 years based on associated animal fossils and sea-level data.