Scientists have confirmed a fossilized jawbone, Penghu 1, discovered off Taiwan's coast in 2010, belongs to a Denisovan male. Analysis of protein fragments in attached teeth provided the identification. This is the third confirmed Denisovan location, demonstrating their presence across diverse Asian environments, from Siberia to the subtropical latitudes. The discovery highlights the potential of paleoproteomics in identifying ancient hominins and underscores the mysteries surrounding this enigmatic hominin species, for which a widely accepted species name is still lacking.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.