News Anthropology

Denisovans inhabited Taiwan, new fossil evidence suggests

The fossil jaw highlights the mystery of Denisovans’ place in hominid evolution

A red-brown lower jaw with a few teeth still attached, purportedly from a Denisovan, is on a black background.

An analysis of proteins in this jaw, found by fishermen off Taiwan’s coast, indicate that the fossil comes from a Stone Age population called Denisovans.

Yousuke Kaifu

By Bruce Bower

A fossil jaw originally netted by fishermen off the ocean floor near Taiwan’s west coast belonged to a member of a mysterious hominid population known as Denisovans, scientists report in the April 11 Science.