China's Bianfu Cave yields Denisovan fossils, widening their Asian footprint
Archaeologists in Yunnan’s Bianfu Cave have unearthed Denisovan remains—teeth, an arm bone and skull fragments—dating to 167,000–134,000 years ago, along with bone and stone tools and pollen and animal remains. The find marks Bianfu as a major Denisovan site in subtropical Asia, suggesting these ancient humans inhabited forested regions, hunted large prey, and used expedient technologies. DNA preservation was poor, but protein variants and fossil morphology confirm Denisovan identity, expanding their known range beyond Siberia and the Tibetan Plateau and offering new insights into their lifestyle and environment.