New Fossil Analysis Suggests Late Denisovans Were Tall and Heavy

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The short version

• Fossilized leg bones found in the Penghu Channel suggest two male Denisovans lived between 45,000 and 43,000 years ago.
• Estimates place one individual at nearly six feet tall and the other over six feet two inches, significantly larger than contemporary Homo erectus.
• The findings fill a critical geographic gap in the fossil record for East and Southeast Asia during the final phase of Denisovan existence.

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv offers fresh insights into the physical stature of Denisovans, an extinct group of hominins related to modern humans and Neanderthals. Based on an analysis of fossilized leg bones recovered from the Penghu Channel in Taiwan, researchers propose that at least some individuals of this species were remarkably large. The findings, which have not yet undergone peer review, challenge previous assumptions about the uniformity of Denisovan physiology and provide rare data on their appearance during the final millennia of their existence.

The fossils under examination belong to two individuals designated as Penghu 2 and Penghu 3. These remains were originally discovered by local fishermen and are now held in the collection of the National Museum of Natural Science in Taiwan. Radiometric dating places these individuals between 45,000 and 43,000 years ago, a period when Denisovans were still present across parts of Asia but nearing the end of their evolutionary timeline. The bones include femurs and tibias, which allowed scientists to reconstruct estimates of height and weight for both specimens.

According to the researchers, both individuals were likely male. Penghu 2 is estimated to have weighed approximately 183 pounds and stood just under five feet eleven inches tall. Penghu 3 appears to have been even more robust, with an estimated weight of around 200 pounds and a height exceeding six feet two inches. These dimensions suggest that these specific Denisovans were physically imposing compared to other hominins inhabiting the region during the same era.

The size difference is particularly notable when compared to Homo erectus, another hominin species present in the area at the time. The study authors note that these Denisovans may have been nearly a foot taller and more than 60 pounds heavier than their H. erectus counterparts. This significant disparity in body mass and stature implies that Denisovans occupied a different ecological niche or possessed distinct physical advantages, potentially aiding in hunting large game or traversing long distances in search of resources.

Adam Brumm, an archaeologist at Griffith University who was not involved in the study, described these individuals as big and imposing. He compared the stature of Penghu 3 to that of modern professional athletes, noting the sheer scale of these ancient humans relative to other known hominins. The physical build suggests adaptations for a mobile lifestyle, possibly involving the pursuit of large prey such as elephants or covering extensive territories on foot.

Beyond overall size, the researchers observed specific anatomical features in the leg bones that resemble those of modern humans. Notably, the thigh bones exhibit a well-developed vertical ridge known as a pilaster. The function of this feature remains uncertain; it may have been an independent adaptation for mobility or a trait inherited through interbreeding with Homo sapiens. Given that some modern human populations carry Denisovan DNA, genetic exchange between the groups is plausible, though genomic testing of these specific fossils would be required to confirm such a link.

The significance of these findings extends beyond physical measurements. John Hawks, an anthropologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, highlighted that these fossils address a major gap in the archaeological record. While evidence of Denisovans has been found in regions like Russia and Tibet, there has been almost no information regarding their presence in the coastal areas and river valleys of China or mainland Southeast Asia. These specimens provide the first concrete data on Denisovan biology in this part of the world during this late period.

Despite these advances, many questions remain unanswered. The sample size is small, consisting of only two individuals from a single location. It is unclear whether this large stature was typical for all Denisovans in the region or unique to these specific individuals. Furthermore, the reasons for their eventual disappearance remain unknown. As more fossils are discovered and analyzed, researchers hope to build a more comprehensive picture of how these hominins lived, interacted with other species, and ultimately vanished from the landscape.

The study underscores the complexity of human evolution and the diversity of forms that existed alongside our own ancestors. By filling in blanks in the fossil record for East and Southeast Asia, these findings help refine our understanding of the competitive dynamics between different hominin groups. Future research will likely focus on expanding the geographic scope of Denisovan fossils and exploring the genetic implications of their physical traits.

Until additional evidence emerges, the Penghu fossils stand as a crucial piece of the puzzle. They demonstrate that Denisovans were not a monolithic group but varied in size and potentially in adaptation. The discovery reinforces the need for continued exploration of archaeological sites in underrepresented regions to uncover more about these long-lost cousins and their place in human history.

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• Smithsonian Magazine↗Thousands of Years Ago, Denisovans Might Have Been Huge, Especially Compared to Their Archaic Human Neighbors