Researchers have identified two leg bones discovered on the seafloor near Taiwan as belonging to Denisovans, an extinct hominin species that may have been substantially taller than previously thought. The fossils suggest Denisovans reached heights up to 190 centimetres, rivaling modern humans and exceeding other ancient hominins like Neanderthals and early modern humans.
The bones were recovered from underwater archaeological sites off Taiwan's coast, where lower sea levels during the Pleistocene epoch exposed now-submerged land. Analysis of the femurs and tibias indicates they belonged to a robust individual with skeletal proportions distinct from other known hominin species. The discovery challenges existing assumptions about Denisovan body size and physiology based on limited fossil evidence.
Denisovans remain one of the least understood human relatives. Known primarily through genetic material extracted from teeth and finger bones, they lived in Asia between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals and early modern humans. DNA evidence reveals Denisovans interbred with both modern humans and Neanderthals, leaving genetic traces in contemporary populations, particularly among East Asians and Oceanians.
The Taiwan fossils represent rare skeletal material from Denisovans, whose fragmentary fossil record has hindered understanding of their anatomy and behavior. The significant height suggested by these bones implies Denisovans possessed physical capabilities adapted to their environment, though researchers emphasize caution in drawing broad conclusions from limited specimens.
The underwater location of the finds underscores how rising seas have submerged archaeological sites from the Pleistocene, preserving remains that reveal new information about ancient populations. Taiwan's seafloor sites have yielded multiple hominin fossils, making the region increasingly important for understanding human evolution in Asia.
Further analysis of