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Denisovan fossil discovery near Taiwan

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2026-08-20 00:09 UTC → 2026-08-24 12:20 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Researchers have identified Denisovan remains recovered from the seafloor of the Penghu Channel (also referred to as the Pcheng-chu Strait) between Taiwan and mainland China. Using protein analysis, scientists confirmed that specimens including a jawbone (Penghu 1) and leg bones (Penghu 2 and Penghu 3) belong to this extinct human ~~relative.~~ relative, which split from Neanderthals approximately 550,000 years ago. The findings provide rare physical data on Denisovan anatomy, as much previous knowledge was limited to ~~genetics.~~ genetics, teeth, and jaw fragments. Analysis of the ~~leg bones~~ recovered femur and tibia suggests these individuals possessed a notably large stature for the Late Pleistocene. Estimates indicate one individual may have stood approximately 1.80 meters (5 feet 11 inches) and weighed 83 kilograms, while another may have reached 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches) and weighed approximately 91 ~~kilograms (200 pounds).~~ kilograms. These dimensions suggest that some Denisovans may have been larger than many Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, or Homo erectus living at the time. Beyond physical stature, chemical analysis of the bone composition suggests a diet primarily consisting of terrestrial ungulate meat, with a low intake of seafood. The discovery also challenges Bergman’s rule, as the individuals lived in a relatively warm region despite their large body dimensions. While the scientific community focuses on these evolutionary insights, the discovery has also prompted non-scientific speculation regarding potential links to biblical accounts of the Nephilim.

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