Rare Fossils Offer Clues to the Appearance of Denisovans
WHO:
Gizmodo - The research team included researchers based primarily in China and many researchers involved in an earlier Denisovan discovery.
Gizmodo - Qiaomei Fu, a geneticist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was the study’s corresponding author.
Gizmodo - Sally Wasef, a paleogeneticist at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, commented to Nature News and was not involved in the study.
Gizmodo - Fabrice Demeter, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said more samples would help validate the findings.
Gizmodo - Denisovans are an extinct human group and close relatives of Neanderthals.
Phys.org - Denisovans were an extinct human group closely related to Neanderthals.
WHAT:
The Conversation - The Harbin skull was identified as a distinct human species and named *Homo longi* by Chinese researchers in 2021.
The Conversation - Analyses of the Harbin skull’s DNA and fossil proteins confirmed a connection to Denisova Cave and other fossils found in China, including a jawbone from a cave on the Tibetan plateau, bones recovered off Taiwan, and remains from a cave in southwestern China.
The Conversation - A Denisovan genome differs from both Neanderthal and modern-human genomes.
The Conversation - Genome comparisons found Neanderthal DNA at about 2% in people outside Africa; Denisovan DNA reaches around 4% in some people from the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
The Conversation - A bone fragment from Denisova Cave belonged to a girl whose mother was Neanderthal and father Denisovan.
The Conversation - Collagen has been identified in fossils millions of years old, and researchers are investigating ancient proteins because DNA preservation is patchy, especially in warm conditions and over long periods.
Gizmodo - Researchers analyzed 20 fossils from Xujiayao and identified them as Denisovan remains; the fossils were estimated to be 138,000–199,000 years old.
Gizmodo - The study described Denisovans as having a low cranial profile, rectangular eye sockets, a massive brow ridge, flat cheekbones, and a slightly protruded jaw.
Gizmodo - The fossils shared some features with Neanderthals but differed in important ways, according to a CAS statement.
Gizmodo - Researchers identified an amino-acid change observed so far only in fossils confirmed as Denisovan, not in modern-human or Neanderthal samples; CAS said it could serve as a molecular marker for identifying Denisovan remains.
Gizmodo - Researchers compared the Xujiayao skull fragments with roughly 200 remains from different human species to define possible Denisovan physical features.
Gizmodo - The findings were published in Nature and provide evidence about Denisovan biology, geographic distribution, diet, and societal practices.
Gizmodo - CAS said the findings challenge the view that East Asia was genetically “chaotic” during the Middle Pleistocene and “fundamentally improves this situation” by clarifying Denisovan identity.
Phys.org - The Denisovan fossil record is sparse, and relatively little is known about the group.
WHERE:
The Conversation - The Harbin skull was recovered and later donated to Hebei Geo University near Beijing.
The Conversation - Denisovan DNA is found at its highest reported levels in some populations from the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
Gizmodo - The 20 fossils came from Xujiayao, a paleoanthropological site in eastern China.
Gizmodo - The first fossils recognized as Denisovan were found in Denisova Cave, Russia; later discoveries were primarily in Asia.
Gizmodo - A separate discovery identified Denisovan remains at Bianfu Cave.
Phys.org - Denisovans may have lived in East Asia.
WHEN:
Gizmodo - The fossils from Xujiayao were estimated to be 138,000–199,000 years old.
Gizmodo - The Middle Pleistocene is described as spanning 129,000–774,000 years ago.
Phys.org - Denisovans may have lived from at least 300,000 to 45,000 years ago.
WHY:
Gizmodo - Denisovans have been difficult to identify because their fossil record and established physical characteristics have been limited; CAS said the academic community had not agreed on features that could quickly identify their remains.
Gizmodo - Demeter said Denisovans’ wide geographic range and long period of existence could mean their morphology varied.
Phys.org - The sparse fossil record is the main reason relatively little is known about Denisovans.
HOW:
Gizmodo - Researchers used proteomic analysis of ancient proteins to identify the Xujiayao remains as Denisovan.
Gizmodo - Wasef said ancient DNA provides more detailed information, while proteins can survive longer and reveal information about an individual’s genetic background.
Gizmodo - Researchers examined the skull fragments’ morphology and compared them with roughly 200 remains from other human species.
(UPDATED October 24, 2026 04:06 UTC)
Researchers have identified 20 fossils from China’s Xujiayao site as Denisovan remains, offering rare evidence about this extinct human group, closely related to Neanderthals. The fossils are estimated to be 138,000 to 199,000 years old, and the team used ancient protein analysis alongside comparisons of skull fragments with roughly 200 other human remains. The researchers found an amino-acid change seen so far only in confirmed Denisovan fossils, which could help identify future discoveries. The remains show a low skull profile, heavy brow ridge and other features that overlap with, but also differ from, Neanderthals. Denisovans have been difficult to recognize because the fossil record is sparse and their physical traits remain uncertain. Genetic evidence shows Denisovan ancestry in some people today, reaching around 4% in populations from the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia. An outside expert said more samples are needed to validate the findings.
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(UPDATED October 23, 2026 23:21 UTC)
Researchers have identified 20 fossils from Xujiayao, in eastern China, as remains of Denisovans, an extinct human group closely related to Neanderthals. Estimated to be 138,000 to 199,000 years old, the fossils help fill gaps in a sparse record that has made Denisovans difficult to identify. The team used ancient-protein analysis and compared skull fragments with roughly 200 remains from other human species. The fossils show a low skull profile, rectangular eye sockets, a prominent brow ridge, flat cheekbones and a slightly protruding jaw. Researchers also found an amino-acid change seen so far only in confirmed Denisovan fossils, which could help identify future finds. The study’s corresponding author was geneticist Qiaomei Fu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Paleogeneticist Sally Wasef, who was not involved, noted that DNA offers more detail, while proteins can survive longer. Paleoanthropologist Fabrice Demeter said additional samples would help validate the findings.