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Using sophisticated techniques to determine the age of bone fragments, teeth, and artifacts in a Siberian cave, two teams of different scientists reveal that the locals – the 39 extinct human species – could be more advanced than we thought and live with the Neanderthals (another group of human beings) for more than 100,000 years in the same cave. Published in two scientific papers this week in Nature these studies are based on traces in the cave of Denisova, on the hills of Altai, in Siberia.
Although they remain a mystery, the Denisovans have left a genetic legacy. in our species, Homo sapiens especially among the indigenous populations of Papua New Guinea and Australia, which retain a small percentage (but important) of DNA denisovan. That is to say, it is proof that there was once a cross between these species.
In one of the new studies, it is pointed out that the Denisovans occupied the cave of Denisova between 200 000 and 50 000 years ago. In addition, the age of ornaments based on animal teeth and bone tips was estimated between 43,000 and 49,000 years. These objects must have been manufactured by the Denisovans, suggesting that they already possessed an intellectual sophistication.
Already in the other scientific article, it is said that the inhabitants lived in this cave 287 000 to 55 000 years ago and that the Neanderthals lived there also. between 193,000 and 97,000 years old. Thus, more than 100,000 years ago, these two groups of humans lived in the same cave. The stone tools also indicate that one or both human groups began to occupy the cave 300,000 years ago
Last year, a team of scientists described a curious fragment of 39; bones of a girl found in the cave of Denisova. This girl had a Neanderthal mother and a father of Denisovan. That is to say, we realized that these two groups of humans were crossing each other. The girl is known as Denny and lived for 100,000 years, the new survey further points out.
"Generally, these objects are badociated with the expansion of our species in Western Europe and are seen as a mark of behavioral modernity.But in this case, its authors might be the Denisovans," said Katerina Douka , archaeologist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (Germany) and author of one of the scientific papers.
Richard Roberts / Reuters
Our species was born in Africa about 300,000 years ago and then spread around the world. There is no evidence that Homo sapiens arrived at Denisova's cave at the time of manufacture of the found objects.
But what do we know about the Denisovans themselves? Until now, we have found only three teeth and one finger. "The new fossils are welcome because we know almost nothing about the physical appearance of the Denisovans," said Zenobia Jacobs of the University of Wollongong in Australia and author of both articles.
Richard Roberts, who also signs the two works and belongs to the University of Wollongong, adds: "Your DNA [dos denisovanos] among Australian and Neo-Guinean aboriginal peoples suggests spreading them widely across Asia. we need to find stronger evidence of his presence in this region to fill his entire history. "
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