Denisovan Jawbone 'Penghu 1' Found in Taiwan

A fossilized jawbone, known as Penghu 1, discovered off the coast of Taiwan has been identified as belonging to a Denisovan, an extinct hominin species closely related to Neanderthals and modern humans. The jawbone, discovered by commercial fishers and later analyzed using ancient protein fragments, provides significant insights into the Denisovans' adaptability and geographic range, suggesting they inhabited diverse environments from Siberia to Southeast Asia. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the Denisovans' limited habitat and highlights their contribution to the genetic makeup of present-day Asian populations. The fossil's robust features, including a strong jaw and large teeth, are distinct from those of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Researchers were unable to extract DNA from the fossil due to environmental degradation, but protein analysis confirmed its Denisovan origin. These findings, published in the journal Science, expand our understanding of human evolution and the Denisovans' role within it.