Archaeologists learn more about who and what lived in this famous Siberian cave

These delays are very long and literally span hundreds of thousands of years. However, what these fossils and artifacts have not been able to tell us is if these hominin occupations were continuous or interrupted. The new research corroborates previous work in Denisova Cave, but it also addresses some unknown gaps, showing that archaic humans were not present in the cave for a considerable period of time. According to their new research, several species of carnivorous animals, including hyenas, wolves and sometimes even bears, were in their place.

"We already knew from the fossil bone disc that other animals were present in the cave, but it was surprising how many hyenas – and to a lesser extent, wolf – were shit would be present in the sediment disc, "said Morley. "It really shows that non-human animals used the cave for most of their professional history, and early humans were only occasional users."

Indeed, the large volume of coprolites – a sophisticated archaeological term for a fossilized poop – and traces of animal bones in the various sedimentary layers suggest that the cave was occupied by animals "almost continuously", in the words of authors. The cave was forbidden to humans for long periods of time, although the reason for this is not immediately obvious. Importantly, there is no evidence that humans have come into conflict with these animals. That said, Morley said there was "no doubt" competition for this valuable space. The abundant amounts of poo "cavernicolous carnivores are ubiquitous and suggest that the site often served as a haunt for hyenas and, to a lesser extent, for wolves," wrote the study's authors.

At the same time, "the cavern was visited sporadically by the hominins, who did not seem to have been prolific users of fire," according to the newspaper. This juxtaposition – many carnivores, few hominins and little traces of fire – means that archaeologists must be extra careful to determine how human bones have reached the bottom of the cave. As Morley reported to Gizmodo, some human bones may have been introduced into the cave by retrieving hyenas from the outside. Thus, in some cases, the presence of hominins fossils may not be an indication of their occupation on the site.

This new paper marks the first time that the dust of Denisova Cave has been analyzed in such detail. In doing so, Morley and his colleagues were able to detect materials in sediments that were normally not visible to the naked eye, such as traces of coprolites, small pieces of bone, fragments microscopic and macroscopic charcoal from fireplaces, as well as traces of ash and coal. stone tool flakes.

To conduct this study, archaeologists "removed sediment blocks from the trench walls at the site and brought them back to the lab," said Morley. These blocks were then soaked in plastic resin for curing, which allowed them to be cut into extremely thin slices, some of which measured only 30 microns deep. These slices were analyzed with the help of an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope in order to "search for micro-traces of human and animal occupation", as well as characteristics. indicating a changing climate, he said.

Indeed, the climate in the Altai Mountains has not been constant over the 300 000 years studied. In general, the climate "has gone from cold, arid open steppe environments during the ice ages to warmer and generally wetter periods with forest steppes during the interglacial periods," Morley explained. Neanderthals and Denisovans were probably well adapted to the cold, and both groups probably lived in the area even during the coldest periods, said Morley.

The archaeologist Katerina Douka of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, who was not affiliated with the new research and who is expert of the cave Denisova, has stated that this new study is important because it provides "general information" on the subject. buried in the sediments of the cave.

"By studying the succession of layers at the microscopic level, it is amazing to discover a wide range of materials, from bone fragments to hyena coprolites and even stone tool chips," he said. Douka wrote to Gizmodo in an email. "It also indicates that humans and animals alternate to occupy the site, stressing how difficult and precarious life was in the Paleolithic era."

Indeed, the new document raises important questions about Denisovans and Neanderthals in the region, for example why they lived there only sporadically and how the presence of other potentially dangerous animals influenced their movements. Denisova's cave continues to intrigue and she undoubtedly has more stories to tell.