High on the Tibetan Plateau, in the Baishiya Karst Cave, a fascinating ancient story of human survival unfolds. A recent study reveals that the Denisovans, an extinct species of humans, called this place home for thousands of years.
Apart from their significant genetic contribution to modern humans, very little is known about the Denisovans.
Somehow, these enigmatic ancient people have adapted to the harsh conditions of the high altitudes of the Tibetan mountains, leaving behind clues that provide fascinating insights into their lifestyle and resilience.
Who were the Denisovans?
Remember them from science class? They are an extinct species from our ancient lineage that lived on Earth with us, Homo sapiens, and our other long lost cousins, the Neanderthals.
Unlike Neanderthals, however, Denisovans are more mysterious. We have only found a few pieces of their enigmatic existence so far.
The mystery deepened when a determined international research team made an incredible discovery.
Their goal? To examine more than 2,500 bone remains found in the Baishiya Karst Cave, one of two known Denisovan habitats.
New findings raise more questions
Published in the NatureTheir fascinating analysis identifies a fresh fossil of Denisovans. It also illustrates the species’ incredible resilience in the face of fluctuating climatic conditions, including the Ice Age.
Think about this: our ancestors survived on the Tibetan plateau from about 200,000 to 40,000 years ago. Can you imagine that?
Dr Geoff Smith, a zooarchaeologist at the University of Reading and co-author of the study, was excited by the findings regarding Denisovan behaviour.
The research team discovered evidence of the diverse diet of this ancient hominin species.
“We were able to determine that the Denisovans hunted, slaughtered and ate a range of animal species,” Dr. Smith explained.
He further emphasized the importance of their discoveries, noting that the research provides insights into how the Denisovans adapted to challenging environmental conditions.
“We are only just beginning to understand the behavior of this extraordinary human species,” Dr. Smith concluded, emphasizing the nascent state of our knowledge about this species.
Revealing details about the lives of the Denisovans
The bone fragments were many, making identification a challenge. Nevertheless, the team developed a new scientific method to determine which species the bone fragments belonged to. It uses differences in bone collagen between animals.
Dr. Huan Xia from Lanzhou University highlights this innovative technique: “Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) allows us to extract valuable information from often overlooked bone fragments, giving us deeper insights into human activities.”
The introduction of ZooMS represents a quantum leap in archaeological studies. This advanced technique allows scientists to extract identifiable collagen peptides from tiny bone fragments, transforming an otherwise obscure and complicated puzzle into a clearer picture of the past.
Most of the bones, the researchers discovered, belonged to blue sheep (bharal), wild yaks, equids, the extinct woolly rhinoceros and the spotted hyena. There were also bone fragments from small mammals, such as marmots and birds.
“Current evidence suggests that it was Denisovans, and not other human groups, who inhabited the cave and made efficient use of all animal resources available to them during their stay,” explains Dr. Jian Wang of Lanzhou University.
Denisovans were resourceful and resilient
Furthermore, the researchers’ careful analysis of the fragmented bone surfaces indicates that the Denisovans not only hunted these animals, they also modified their remains into useful tools.
The team identified a rib bone dating to between 48,000 and 32,000 years ago and belonging to an unknown Denisovan individual.
This person lived at a time when our ancestors, modern humans, began to spread across the Eurasian continent.
The researchers believe that the Denisovans survived two cold periods and a warmer interglacial period between the Middle and Late Pleistocene.
Together, the fossil and molecular evidence indicates that the Ganjia Basin, where the Baishiya Karst Cave is located, provided a relatively stable environment for the Denisovans, despite its high altitude.
Dr. Frido Welker from the University of Copenhagen leaves us with a lingering question: “The question now arises as to when and why these Denisovans became extinct on the Tibetan Plateau.”
Implications for modern human society
In summary, this latest discovery raises a wave of new questions. Why did these resilient creatures go extinct? What lessons can we learn from their survival amid changing climates?
The insights gained from studying Denisovans resonate with pressing contemporary issues. In today’s world, where climate change is shifting environmental parameters at an unprecedented pace, understanding how Denisovans adapted to severe climate fluctuations can provide valuable lessons.
Their ability to withstand the harsh conditions of high altitude reflects the modern-day challenges faced by communities in similar extreme environments.
When we think about their ingenuity and resilience, we can draw parallels with the importance of sustainable living and adaptive strategies.
If we delve deeper into the remains of these ancient people, we might find more than just echoes of our ancestors. We might find a guide to our future.
The Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of CAS, China, also contributed to this study.
The full study was published in the journal Nature.
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