Ancient human species that vanished 40,000 years ago finally has its face revealed

Scientists have carried out a study of rare fossils that has revealed what the Denisovans, a species of ancient human ancestors, may have looked like.

The Denisovans are a little-known human species that lived across Asia between 300,000 and 400,000 years ago.

But not much is known about these ancient humans, as few fossils of the species have been found over the years.

Researchers have got hold of some fossils found across China, with one group putting together skull and jaw fragments to help find out what our distant relatives really looked like.

The latest artist's impression suggests that they shared similarities with Neaderthals, but their facial features greatly differed.

Following a study of rare fossils, this is what ancient human ancestors, the Denisovans, may have looked like. Credit: Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology/CAS

Details of Denisovans

The latest impression of the species draws a few similarities to modern day humans, but there are some key differences.

Denisovan skulls were low and broad, featuring sides that ran straight back instead of curving inwards, as well as some large, jutting brow ridges above their eyes, in addition to having fairly broad cheekbones.

Different to other ancient human relatives, the Denisovans also had some flattened features, such as a jaw and face that only jutted out slightly.

Unlike Neanderthal remains, which scientists have in abundance, to the point of near-complete skeletons, Denisovan fossils continue to be far harder to come by.

The Denisovans were first identified by some tiny finger bones and scattered teeth discovered by Russian archaeologists in the Denisova Cave, in the Altai Mountains of Siberia, back in 2008.

Anthropologists rely on DNA analysis to identify which bones belonged to the species, due to how scarce the remains are.

Over the years, experts have found Denisovan fossils across Asia, such as jawbones, ribs, and skulls.

It has given scientists an idea of what Denisovans were like and where they lived, but there are some questions which persist.

These Denisovan bones were found in the sea near Taiwan. Credit: University of Tokyo

Researchers publish new findings

A new paper was published by the researchers in the journal Nature, where they examined bones from two individuals found at the Xujiayao archaeological site in northern China between 1976 and 1979.

While many suspected that these remains were Dinsovan, researchers needed to prove it.

In order to do this, the team drilled small holes into the bones to gather powdered fossil samples, and extracted the proteins that were still preserved inside.

This method resulted in 18 ancient proteins being identified, as they were analyzed alongside data from other ancient hominins and regular humans.

Small differences were found in the protein sequencesm such as a variation of the collagen protein, named COL1A2-996K, which was found in Denisovan fossils, but not in Neanderthals or modern day humans.

The researchers believe that this conclusion 'strongly supported their affiliation with the Denisovan lineage', allowing them to use findings to create 3D computer models of the Denisovans.

In comparing this with humans and Neanderthals, it was found that Denisovans had a mix from more ancient hominins, as well as similarities with the aforementioned species.

Like Neanderthals, Denisovans had a small hollow near the back of the skull, as well as similar skull and inner ear structures.

Featured image credit: Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology/CAS