Denisovans lived and hunted in southwestern China
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Researchers studying fossils and artifacts from Bianfu Cave in Yunnan Province, China, detailed how Denisovans, an archaic human relative, lived roughly 167,000 to 70,000 years ago.
A team led by Qingfeng Ruan, Hua Li, and Song Xing analysed fossils and archaeological remains to understand Denisovan life in eastern Asia. They identified the fossils as Denisovan through enamel analysis and ancient protein sequencing, techniques that work well in the warm, humid climate of southern China where DNA degrades quickly.
The fossils included teeth, skull fragments, and a forearm bone, giving scientists a more complete picture of Denisovan anatomy than previously available. The archaeological record showed that Denisovans lived in a landscape of coniferous forest and steppe, adapting to changing climates over a period of 120,000 years, one of the longest continuous records linked to Denisovans anywhere in the world. Evidence suggests these hominins were specialized hunters of medium to large animals, requiring knowledge of animal behavior and coordinated effort.
Their tool use was characterised by simple, expedient methods, modifying objects minimally and taking advantage of readily available materials like bones. Researchers suggest this strategy was efficient in the resource-rich environment of southwestern China, showing that Denisovans prioritised utilising existing qualities in materials rather than intensive toolmaking. This way of life may have contributed to the genetic and cultural inheritance passed on to modern populations in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
