GoKawiilAncient protein analysis identifies new Denisovan fossils in Southwest China
Researchers used ancient protein analysis to identify additional Denisovan skeletal remains from a site in Southwest China, expanding the known geographic and fossil record of this archaic human population. The study, published in Nature, builds on prior genetic and proteomic work that has traced Denisovans from Siberia's Denisova Cave to the Tibetan Plateau, Laos, Taiwan, and now southwestern China.
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Denisovan fossils are exceptionally rare, and most identifications have relied on DNA that degrades quickly in warm climates, so protein-based identification methods open new possibilities for finding Denisovan remains across Asia. This particular find helps clarify how widely Denisovans ranged and how they adapted their subsistence strategies to different environments, from Siberian caves to subtropical Chinese landscapes.
- Ancient protein analysis, not just DNA, is now being used to identify Denisovan fossils.
- New remains were found in Southwest China, adding to known Denisovan sites across Asia.
- The findings help map Denisovan geographic range and subsistence adaptations across diverse climates.
Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art by Rebecca Wragg Sykes — If Denisovan mandibles and ancient protein studies fascinate you, this acclaimed book brings archaic humans vividly to life, covering diet, tools and subsistence strategies in accessible prose. It's a perfect companion for following the flurry of new hominin discoveries across Asia.
See Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art by Rebecca Wragg Sykes on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: nature.com — Ruan, 2026-09-09
Published there as: “Denisovans from southwestern China and their subsistence strategies”
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