Denisovan fossil identification in China

Researchers using paleoproteomics have identified fossil fragments from the Xujiayao archaeological site in northern China as belonging to the Denisovans, an extinct human species. The study, published in the journal Nature, analyzed 20 fossils—including skull, jaw, and dental remains—originally excavated between 1976 and 1979.

By examining ancient proteins, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed the lineage of these remains, which were previously classified under different names such as Homo juluensis. The findings provide a clearer anatomical picture of the Denisovans, who lived across Asia between 300,000 and 40,000 years ago.

Reconstructions suggest the Denisovans possessed distinct facial features, including low and broad skulls, large and prominent brow ridges, and relatively flat cheekbones. Key anatomical features identified include a low and sloping forehead, a prominent and backward-curving supraorbital ridge, rectangular eye orbits, and a moderately elevated nasal bridge. These discoveries help refine the scientific understanding of a group previously known primarily through DNA and protein analysis.