Ancient radius reveals details about Denisovan anatomy
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Scientists in China discovered a 4.5 centimeter radius bone from an adult Denisovan who lived between 142,000 and 134,000 years ago at Bianfu Cave in Yunnan Province.
Researchers had previously identified Denisovans through DNA extracted from a finger bone and, more recently, a skull and leg bones suggesting they were tall, potentially reaching 1.9 meters in height.
This new radius, along with skull fragments and teeth, provides the first look at a Denisovan forearm bone and offers clues about the species’ biomechanics. The bone displays a combination of traits found in both Neanderthals and modern humans. Its large joint surface resembles that of Neanderthals, while its overall shape is more similar to modern humans.
The attachment point for the biceps muscle is positioned in a way that could have given Denisovans greater rotational force in their arms, though the fragment alone does not confirm greater muscle mass. Researchers identified the bone as Denisovan through protein analysis, as the cave’s conditions prevented DNA preservation. They also found 1,366 stone tools and animal remains at the site, indicating the Denisovans were hunters who butchered animals and processed bones for marrow.
This discovery adds to a growing fossil record of Denisovans across Asia, helping scientists build a more complete picture of this ancient human lineage.
