Core Insights - The research confirms that the Denisovans belong to the Dragon Man lineage, significantly altering the timeline of human evolution [1][2] - The study reveals that the divergence time of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Dragon Man is much earlier than previously accepted, suggesting a more complex evolutionary history [2] Group 1: Research Findings - The "Yunxian Man 2" skull, discovered in Hubei, exhibits both primitive and advanced features, indicating a transitional form in human evolution [1] - The analysis shows that Yunxian Man is not a representative of Homo erectus but closely related to the Denisovans, marking it as an early representative of the Dragon Man lineage [2] Group 2: Implications for Human Evolution - The study constructs a new evolutionary tree for the genus Homo, aligning with genomic research and suggesting that human ancestors had already diverged into multiple independent groups over a million years ago [2] - This research provides a crucial link for understanding East Asian ancient human evolution and prompts a reevaluation of the entire evolutionary family tree of the genus Homo [2]

Core Viewpoint - A newly analyzed ancient human skull fossil, approximately 1 million years old, challenges traditional human evolution theories, revealing a new evolutionary branch closely related to the Denisovans, named "Longren" (Homo longi) [2][5]. Group 1: Research Findings - The research led by Ni Xijun from the Chinese Academy of Sciences indicates that the divergence time of modern humans, Neanderthals, and the Longren branch has been significantly pushed forward, surpassing previous academic consensus [2][5]. - The skull fossil, known as "Yunxian Man 2," was discovered in Hubei Province in 1990 and was initially classified as Homo erectus due to its damaged state at the time of discovery [3][4]. - The reconstructed skull exhibits a blend of primitive and advanced features, with a brain capacity exceeding 1100 milliliters, indicating a complex evolutionary history [4][5]. Group 2: Methodology - The research team utilized high-precision CT scanning and surface scanning technologies to identify features of the fossil, followed by innovative digital reconstruction methods to piece together the skull [4]. - A new statistical framework was developed to validate the reconstruction results, addressing a long-standing challenge in paleobiology [4]. Group 3: Implications - The findings suggest that the Yunxian Man is an early representative of the Longren branch, indicating that human ancestors had already diverged into multiple independent evolutionary groups as early as 1 million years ago [5]. - The research provides clarity on the evolutionary timeline between 1 million and 300,000 years ago, highlighting the complexity of human origins [5].