Chinese cave traces Denisovan hunting and adaptation across 120,000 years

by Kassi Klower, University of Wollongong

edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan

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Add as preferred source Hominin fossils from Bianfu Cave. Credit: Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10997-4 An ancient cave in southwestern China has revealed new evidence about how Denisovans—an ancient human relative—lived, survived and adapted over more than 100,000 years.

The study, published in Nature , brings together fossils, stone and bone tools, animal remains and environmental records from Bianfu Cave in Yunnan Province to provide one of the longest cultural records of Denisovans.