Abstract
Denisova Cave in Siberia’s Altai Mountains is one of the world’s most important archaeological sites. It is famous for preserving evidence of three early human groups: Neanderthals, early Homo sapiens, and a third group known as the Denisovans.
Fossil bones, stone tools and ancient DNA gathered from the cave have told a story that is extremely significant for understanding the early chapters of human evolution in Asia, going back 300,000 years.
But our new analysis of the cave’s dirt floor reveals that it was also frequented by hyenas, wolves, and even bears for much of its history.
Fossil bones, stone tools and ancient DNA gathered from the cave have told a story that is extremely significant for understanding the early chapters of human evolution in Asia, going back 300,000 years.
But our new analysis of the cave’s dirt floor reveals that it was also frequented by hyenas, wolves, and even bears for much of its history.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Specialist publication | The Conversation |
| Publisher | The Conversation |
| Publication status | Published - 26 Sept 2019 |
Bibliographical note
CC BY-ND. This article can be republished both online and in print under a Creative Commons Attribution/No derivatives license. Please do not edit the piece, ensure that you attribute the author, their institute, and mention that the article was originally published on The Conversation.Keywords
- Archaeology
- Denisovans
- Human evolution
- Homo sapiens
- Neanderthals
- Carnivores