Denisovan fossils and tools discovered in China's Bianfu Cave

Archaeologists have discovered new Denisovan fossils and over 1,300 tools in the Bianfu Cave, located in an abandoned quarry in southwest China's Yunnan province. The findings, published in the journal Nature, provide significant new insights into the lifestyle, appearance, and geographic distribution of this ancient human group.

Analysis of proteins and high-quality X-rays confirmed that the fragments belong to at least three Denisovans who lived between 167,000 and 134,000 years ago. The remains were found alongside animal remains, suggesting specialized hunting practices. The artifacts, including stone and bone tools, indicate that the Denisovans utilized technologies similar to those used by Neanderthals.

While Denisovan DNA has been identified in modern human populations in regions such as Tibet, the Philippines, and Australia, fossil evidence has historically been extremely limited. This discovery helps clarify how the species inhabited a vast territory spanning from North Asia to Southeast Asia.