Denisovan Fossils Identified

Archaeology Magazine ^ | October 27, 2026 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Phys.org reports that a new analysis of a skull fragment and jaw fragment found in northern China's Xujiayao archaeological site in the 1970s suggests that the fossils belonged to Denisovans. Qiaomei Fu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and her colleagues identified 18 proteins in the fossils. One of the collagen variants is found only in Denisovans, and not in Neanderthals nor modern humans. Then the researchers evaluated the shapes of the fossils and used 3D computer models to reconstruct the bones. These images were compared with fossils from Neanderthals, modern humans, and other hominins. The study suggests that Denisovans traits combined the features of ancestral hominins, Neanderthals, and other later human species. In particular, Denisovans are thought to have had low, relatively flat skulls with thick bones, prominent brow ridges, and flattened facial features. They are likely to have lived across East Asia, so other fossils from the region may belong to this Denisovan lineage, the researchers concluded. Read the original scholarly article about this research in Nature. For more, go to "Denisovan DNA."

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TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: ancientautopsies; denisovans; enoughalready; godsgravesglyphs; paleolithic

[SunkenCiv]

Geographical locations, original fossils and virtual reconstructions.

Credit: Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-11132-z

[SunkenCiv]

[Adder]

“Homo longi, defined by the Harbin cranium (about 309–146 thousand years ago (ka)) and now classified as Denisovan, is characterized by a massive, long, low cranium; a low, flat face with a shallow canine fossa, reduced alveolar prognathism; a relatively rounded occipital contour with weak torus; a robust supraorbital torus overhanging near-square orbits; and a large, forwardly and inwardly inclined mastoid process, clustering phylogenetically with Jinniushan,”...

Yeah,,,what HE said.

Obviously you can’t survive with a shallow canine fossa and a weak torus...

[BradyLS]

True. Not all mutations are beneficial.

[BradyLS]

True. Not all mutations are beneficial.

[BradyLS]

See what I mean? There is no benefit to my double-post gene! 😁

[muir_redwoods]

I had a shallow canine fossa but he was worthless for duck hunting. Kept the barn free of mice though

[Verginius Rufus]

I read recently that a gene inherited from Denisovans may be what enables Tibetans to flourish at such high altitudes.

Some populations in New Guinea or Australia may have as much as 4 to 6% of their DNA from Denisovan ancestors. A lot of interesting discoveries in the last few years, a lot of it because of successfully extracting ancient DNA from fossils.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Thanks, SunkenCiv.

[SunkenCiv]

Before the end of the winter I’ve got to go to the hardware store for parts to fix this leaky fossa I’ve got.

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure!