【人民日报海外版】给了丹尼索瓦人一张“脸”

Core Insights - The research identifies the Harbin ancient human skull as belonging to the Denisovans, providing significant insights into their morphology and distribution in East Asia [2][3][4] Group 1: Research Findings - The Harbin skull, dated to at least 146,000 years ago, is linked to the Denisovan lineage, addressing previous gaps in understanding their physical characteristics and genetic evidence [3][4] - The study utilized advanced ancient protein and DNA analysis techniques, successfully extracting mitochondrial DNA from dental calculus, confirming the Harbin individual’s close genetic relationship with Siberian Denisovans [5][6] - The findings suggest that Denisovans were widely distributed in Siberia and northern East Asia during the Middle to Late Pleistocene, raising questions about their interactions with other ancient human groups in China [6] Group 2: Implications for Future Research - The research opens avenues for further studies on the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of Denisovans, particularly in relation to other ancient human fossils in East Asia [6] - Establishing connections between more complete skull morphologies and molecular evidence will be crucial for understanding the common traits and internal diversity of Denisovan populations [6]