Denisova was first discovered more than ten years ago. Denisova is an extinct branch of the human lineage and the closest known relative of modern people and Neanderthals. DNA analysis extracted from Denisova fossils shows that they may have been widely distributed in the Asian continent, Southeast Asian islands and Oceania, and reveals that at least two different Denisova populations have crossed with the ancestors of modern people.
So far, scientists have only found six Denisovan fossils. According to previous reports, in 2008, five of them were unearthed in the Denisova cave in Siberia, Russia; In 2020, another one was unearthed in Baishiya Cave in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China.
Now, researchers have found three more Denisova fossils in Denisova Cave. Scientists estimate that they are about 200,000 years old, which makes them the oldest Denisovans ever discovered. Previously, the earliest known Denisova fossil specimen was about 1.22 million years ~ 1.94 million years.
In this new study, researchers examined 37,965,438+0 bone fragments from the cave in Denisova. They are looking for protein, and they know who Denisova is according to the previous DNA research of the extinct Denisova.
Among these fragments, scientists found five human bones. Four of them have enough DNA to expose their identities, 1 one is Neanderthal, and the other three are Denisova. Based on genetic similarity, two fossils may come from one person or related individuals.
Katerina Douka, a senior author of this study and an archaeologist at the University of Vienna, Austria, said: "We are very excited to find three bones of the Denisova people in the oldest stratum in the Denisova Cave. The strategy for these strata where no other human fossils have been found before has worked."
The researchers estimated the age of these Denisovan fossils based on the soil layer where they were found. This layer also contains a large number of stone products and animal remains, which may be an important archaeological clue about the life and behavior of Denisova people. Previously, Denisova fossils were only found in rocks without this archaeological material, or in rocks that may also have Neanderthal materials.
Duka said: "This is the first time that we have determined that the Denisova people are the makers of archaeological remains related to their bone fragments."
The new findings show that according to previous studies, these newly discovered Denisovans live in a warm climate, similar to today's climate, and live in places suitable for human life, including broad-leaved forests and open grasslands. The remains of slaughtered and charred animals found in caves indicate that Denisova people may have eaten deer, gazelles, horses, bison and rhinoceros with long hair.
Duka said: "We can infer that the Denisovans have adapted well to their environment and used every resource they can."
Most of the stone tools found on the same floor as these Denisovan fossils are scraping tools, which may be used to treat animal skin. Scientists pointed out that the raw materials of these items may come from river sediments outside the cave mouth, which may be helpful to the hunting of Denisova people.
Duka thinks that the strategic location in front of the water source and the entrance to the valley will be an excellent hunting ground.
Stone tools related to these new fossils have no direct counterparts in North and Central Asia. However, the researchers pointed out that they do have some similarities with objects found in Israel 250,000 ~ 400,000 years ago, which is related to major changes in human technology, such as the routine use of fire.
New research has found that the Denisovans may not be the only inhabitants of caves in this period. The bones of carnivores, such as wolves and wild dogs, indicate that Denisova people may actively compete with these carnivores for prey, and perhaps the cave itself.