Mystery Jawbone is a rare fossil from the sea

the Denisovan It was a mysterious group of ancient humans who were likely to live about 370,000 years to at least 30,000 years, and they are believed to be a group or sister of primitive humans. What we know a little about Denisovan depends on a handful of The remains of the fossil are fragmented It was discovered in the Denisova cave in Siberia and the Chinese Tibetan Plateau. However, a new analysis adds another piece to the Denisovan puzzle.

In a study published today in the magazine sciencesA team of researchers from Japan, Taiwan and Denmark revealed that the jaw bone that was previously discovered in Taiwan belongs to the male Denisovan. They reached this conclusion after conducting an ancient protein analysis – an analysis of ancient proteins – which revealed two types of protein associated with dinosovan. Identity provides the most convincing evidence so far that Denisov has lived through various habitats and adapted to various climates.

“The high -quality protein data obtained from Penghu 1 (fossil jaw), which enables it by maintaining relatively good fossil and methods of extracting improved protein, indicates that Penghu 1 belongs to a male Denisovan,” the researchers wrote in the study.

The fishermen were bulldozed Penghu 1, along with other animal fossils, from the sea floor of the Penghu channel in Taiwan – an area that was part of the Asian mainland during the lower sea levels in the Pleistoin era (2.5 million to 11700 years). According to the study, the history of Jawbone dates back to 10,000 to 70,000 years, or 130,000 to 190,000 years.

The reason for two groups of varying age ranges is somewhat related to the methods used so far in the excavation. Because of the deterioration of Jawbone, the team has not been able to use direct dating technologies such as uranium or carbon dating. Instead, scientists relied on indirect evidence, such as the chemical composition of excavation, the types of animal excavations in nearby, and historical data at the sea level. In general, this guide referred to the possible windows.

Researchers, serial proteins extracted from the jaw and teeth, regain 4,241 The remains of the amino acids (Protein blocks) identified two of them as special variables, Denisovan-in the sense that the jaw bone belongs to Denisovan. This direct molecular evidence of the presence of Denisovan in modern Taiwan supports a theory that it previously indicated through the genetic studies of contemporary humans: that is, Denisovan was present in Southeast Asia.

One of the few things we know about Denisovan is that she objects to both primitive human beings and modern humans. As such, some people today have genes that moved from the distant Denizovan ancestors – especially people from Southeast Asia, indicating that Denisovan lived and followed modern humans there. Before the protein analysis of Jawbone, Denisovan’s excavations were only confirmed from North Asia.

“The identification of Pingo 1 Denisovan’s bottom palm confirming the conclusion of modern human genetic studies that Denisovan was widely distributed in East Asia,” the researchers in the study explained. What is more, “Denisovan’s presence in the various geographical and climatic areas,” starting from the cold winter in the north, to the cold on the rise of areas under the tribes in the Alps, to the warm and wet conditions of the low tropical lands, “shows their adaptive flexibility.”

The researchers also conducted morphological analyzes of the jaw bone, and concluded that Dinisovan’s man had a strong jaw, large molars, and noticeable root structures. Miscellaneous, these characteristics are in line with Denisovan fossils from the Tibet Plateau, indicating that they may represent Denisovan wider features.

In the end, the study sheds light on an old human relative that we still know a little, while expanding our understanding of early human development throughout Southeast Asia.