Enigmatic Denisovans lived by cave in what is now China for 100,000 years, rare fossils and handcrafted tools reveal

Archaeologists have discovered a cave in southwestern China containing Denisovan fossils and tools dating back 190,000 to 70,000 years. The findings provide rare evidence of how these ancient humans lived and interacted with their environment.
Why it matters
This discovery significantly expands our understanding of the enigmatic Denisovan lineage and their evolutionary history in Asia.
Anthropologists have discovered the first-ever Denisovan arm bone in a cave in southwest China, which also held thousands of prehistoric animal bones and stone tools.
By Kristina Killgrove Edited by Laura Geggel , Laura Mondrag n Published 9 September 2026 In News 5 min read When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works .
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