Fossil of Extinct Human Species Denisovan Identified in Tibetan Plateau, Their Diet Pattern Revealed

Historical Context: The Denisovans are an extinct species of archaic humans that coexisted with Neanderthals and modern humans (Homo sapiens) in Eurasia. First identified from fossils found in Denisova Cave in Siberia in 2008, they were classified as a distinct species in 2010 by Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo, who won the Nobel Prize for Physiology in 2022. Denisovans lived approximately 200,000 to 30,000 years ago and are known to have interbred with both Neanderthals and modern humans.

Recent Findings: A recent study has identified a Denisovan rib fossil in the Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, dating it to 48,000 to 32,000 years ago. This discovery adds to the evidence that Denisovans inhabited this high-altitude region for an extended period, from 160,000 to 60,000 years ago.

Diet and Lifestyle: Researchers analyzed 2,500 mammalian bones from the cave, revealing that Denisovans had a diverse diet primarily consisting of blue sheep (bharal), wild yaks, woolly rhinos, spotted hyenas, snow leopards, marmots, and birds like the golden eagle and common pheasant. The bones showed signs of processing, such as cut marks, indicating that Denisovans removed meat, extracted bone marrow, and used bones for tool-making and hide preparation.

Significance: The study, conducted by researchers from Chinese, Danish, and British institutions, utilized Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) to identify the species of the bones. This method examines amino acid structures in proteins to determine the species. The findings suggest that Denisovans were adept at utilizing available animal resources and adapted well to the high-altitude environment of the Tibetan Plateau.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Denisovans: Extinct human species identified in 2010, coexisted with Neanderthals and modern humans.
• New Discovery: Rib fossil found in Baishiya Karst Cave, dated to 48,000-32,000 years ago.
• Diet: Primarily blue sheep, wild yaks, woolly rhinos, spotted hyenas, snow leopards, marmots, and birds.
• Bone Processing: Evidence of meat removal, bone marrow extraction, tool-making, and hide preparation.
• Research Method: Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) used to identify species from bone samples.
• Significance: Highlights Denisovans’ adaptation to high-altitude living and efficient use of animal resources.

This comprehensive understanding of Denisovan life and diet provides valuable insights for students preparing for competitive exams, particularly in subjects related to human evolution and archaeology.