XPost: alt.science, alt.archeology, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh

https://scitechdaily.com/mystery-fossil-from-taiwan-identified-as-denisovan-a-game-changer-for-human-evolution/

Ancient protein analysis revealed that the oldest hominin fossil
found in Taiwan belonged to a male Denisovan.

Penghu 1, a jawbone from Taiwan, was identified as Denisovan,
expanding their known range to Southeast Asia. The find
reveals Denisovans had stronger jaws and likely interbred
with humans.

In 2015, a fossil mandible known as Penghu 1, dated to
approximately 19,000 to 10,000 years ago, was discovered on
the seabed of the Penghu Channel off the coast of Taiwan.
It was reported as the first and oldest known hominin
fossil found in Taiwan.

Penghu 1 exhibits distinctive morphological features and
retains several archaic traits, but its exact taxonomic
classification remains uncertain. Efforts to extract
ancient DNA from the fossil were made but proved unsuccessful.

. . .

It was apparently fished-up from the sea bottom
just offshore Taiwan.

Previous genetic studies show that Denisovans migrated
from north-central Asia, down through Tibet and southeast
Asia and some of their genes are even found on a few Pacific
islands and likely in Australian aboriginals. Now add Taiwan
to that list.

Alas so few remains in good condition have made it a bit
difficult to fully characterize the species. In this
instance no viable DNA was found and a 'protein signature'
was the only confirmation route.

In any case, our colorful past PERSISTS - "humans" are
hybrids of hybrids of hybrids, a little of many human-ish
species still within us.

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