Denisovan

Summary

The Denisovans or Denisova hominins are an extinct species or subspecies of archaic human that ranged across Asia during the Middle to Late Pleistocene, approximately 200,000–32,000 years ago. Most of what is known about Denisovans comes from DNA evidence. While many recent fossils have been found and tentatively identified as Denisovan, the first Denisovans discovered were known from few physical remains. Consequently, no formal species name has been established. However, an analysis of the mitochondrial DNA and endogenous proteins from the Harbin cranium, which had been given the name Homo longi, showed with great certainty that this skull represents a Denisovan. In a study published in September 2025, remains from six additional sites in China including the 1 million year old Yunxian man were proposed to be related to the Homo longi lineage with the genetically confirmed Denisovans. Other authors have included other Denisovan remains, like Penghu 1 and the Xiahe mandible, within the species Homo juluensis.