Ice-Age Denisovans: Two Taiwanese Bones Point to Giant Modern Ancestors
Proteomic analysis of two Denisovan leg bones (Penghu 2 and Penghu 3) from the Penghu Channel near Taiwan suggests some Denisovans were among the Ice Age’s giants, with Penghu 2 around 176–179 cm (≈83 kg) and Penghu 3 potentially up to ~189–190 cm (≈91 kg). Placed in the Denisovan lineage via collagen proteins, these bones reveal a mix of archaic and modern features and imply a diverse, widespread population across Asia, possibly with different hunting adaptations and interbreeding with modern humans. DNA wasn’t recoverable, so proteins provided the link; the findings complement prior genetic work (e.g., Harbin skull, Penghu 1) and highlight Denisovans as a more varied lineage than once thought.
