New research sheds light on how ancient Denisovans thrived on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau around 160,000 years ago, navigating a diverse range of challenging environments.
Published in Nature on Wednesday, the study introduces a newly discovered hominin rib specimen dating back between 48,000 and 32,000 years ago. This finding reveals the Denisovans' remarkable adaptation strategies during the late Middle and Late Pleistocene in eastern Eurasia.
The research, a collaboration between Lanzhou University, the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other international institutions, highlights the Denisovans' genetic contributions to modern populations across Oceania, East Asia, South Asia, and the Americas.
Led by Chen Fahu from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, the team conducted multidisciplinary studies on a mandible fossil found at the Baishiya Karst Cave in Xiahe County, Gansu Province. This specimen, identified as Denisovan, was previously detailed in a 2019 Nature publication.
Researchers discovered over 20 animal categories at the site, including wild yaks, hyenas, snow leopards, Tibetan foxes, plateau hares, and marmots. More than 2,500 animal bones unearthed in earlier excavations provided further insights through zooarchaeological and proteomic analyses.
The study reveals that Denisovans actively processed and consumed animal resources in the cave, engaging in activities like skinning, dismembering, and defleshing. Additionally, they utilized bone materials to craft tools, demonstrating their resourcefulness in utilizing the plateau's diverse fauna.
Chen emphasizes that the Denisovans' efficient use of animal resources likely enabled their survival on the plateau for over 100,000 years. These findings are pivotal in understanding Denisovan physical and genetic traits, their high-altitude adaptations, and their interactions with early modern humans in East Asia.
Overall, the research offers critical insights into the Denisovans' way of life and their lasting genetic legacy, enhancing our knowledge of human evolution and ancient human societies.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
