Ancient protein analysis from bone fragments found in a cave on the Tibetan Plateau in China reveals how the Denisovans survived.
Recently, researchers discovered thousands of bone fragments in a cave on the Tibetan Plateau in China, shedding light on the lifestyle of the Denisovans – an extinct branch of the Neanderthal and modern human family.
According to a study published in the journal Nature, over 2,500 bone fragments were found in the Baishiya Karst Cave, located at an altitude of 3,280 meters above sea level.
Illustration of a Denisovan man. (Source: The Nature)
Previously, Denisovan fossils had also been discovered at this site.
Analysis of ancient proteins from these bones reveals how the Denisovans hunted various animal species for meat and hides.
Most of the bone fragments were identified as belonging to blue sheep (bharal) – a mountain goat species that inhabits steep slopes and cliffs in the Himalayas.
Additionally, there were bones from woolly rhinoceroses, yak, small mammals like marmots, birds, and even spotted hyenas.
Notably, scientists also identified a rib fragment belonging to a Denisovan, dating from 48,000 to 32,000 years ago. This is the youngest Denisovan fossil ever found.
The habitat of the Denisovans was a grassland with patches of dense forest, home to many animal species despite harsh conditions.
Marks on the bones indicate that they butchered animals for meat, extracted bone marrow, and skinned them.
Furthermore, scientists found four tools made from animal bones, crafted by the Denisovans for use in processing animal remains.
Molecular anthropologist Frido Welker at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), who is also one of the research team leaders, stated that this discovery provides the first comprehensive understanding of how the Denisovans survived.
Meanwhile, archaeologist Dongju Zhang at Lanzhou University (China), co-leader of the team, assessed that the diversity of the animal remains indicates that the Baishiya Karst Cave provided relatively abundant resources compared to the Tibetan Plateau in the West and the Loess Plateau in Northern China, especially during the Ice Age.
The existence of the Denisovans was first known in 2010 when researchers discovered their remains in the Denisova Cave in Siberia.
Genetic evidence shows that the Denisovans are related to Neanderthals – an extinct ancient human species that lived in various regions of Eurasia.
Genetics indicates they diverged from Neanderthals about 400,000 years ago.
The Denisovans are only known from fragments of teeth and bones from the Baishiya Karst, Denisova, and Cobra caves in Laos.
However, their presence in these three distant locations demonstrates a high adaptability to different environments.
