Bianfu Cave's Denisovan fossils date to 167,000-134,000 years ago
Four teeth, two cranial fragments and a forearm bone from three Denisovans have been identified in Bianfu Cave in Yunnan. The fossils date to 167,000-134,000 years ago, while the cave's cultural layers span 190,000-70,000 years ago. Combining ancient proteins with tooth and bone morphology adds detail about Denisovan anatomy, hunting and tool use.
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The fossils reveal three individuals
The peer-reviewed Nature paper and La Vanguardia's reporting based on interviews with the researchers describe four teeth, two cranial fragments and a forearm bone from three Denisovan individuals in Bianfu Cave. The fossils date to roughly 167,000-134,000 years ago. Because DNA did not survive in the warm setting, the team used ancient proteins in tooth enamel and the shape of the enamel-dentine junction. Denisovan-specific amino-acid variants supplied the central evidence for identifying the human group behind the fragments.[1], [2]
The cave holds a 120,000-year span of activity
The cave's cultural layers extend from 190,000 to 70,000 years ago. Excavation yielded about 60,000 animal fossils and 1,300 stone tools. Pollen and faunal remains point to periods dominated by conifer forest and forest-steppe, while medium and large animals such as deer and water buffalo were hunted. This long sequence preserves evidence of communities repeatedly adapting to changing conditions on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, rather than a single brief occupation.[1], [2]
Simple tools trace how resources were used
Most stone tools were made by quickly removing pieces from available cores, while some animal bones were used without shaping. The researchers interpret this pattern as an adaptive system that exploited an object's existing form instead of investing in lengthy production. The forearm bone also expands the sparse skeletal evidence for Denisovans: its overall form resembles modern humans, while some details resemble Neanderthals. The Bianfu finds therefore make a group first known through genetics more visible through anatomy, environment and everyday behaviour.[1], [2]
