Denisovan Xiahe Mandible

KO-250 $125.00

(Base Included)

Denisovans are a mysterious hominin that lived at the same time as Homo sapiens and Neanderthals about 500,000 – 30,000 years ago. The first evidence of this hominin was found in Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains in Russia in 2008 - a finger bone was excavated and dated to be about 50,000 – 30,000 years old. Results from ancient DNA testing indicated it belonged to a female from an unknown archaic human group. This hominin is related to Neanderthals and modern humans, with enough distinctions to place it into its own classification group.

The Xiahe mandible fragment was found in Baishiya Karst Cave, China in 1980 and dated to be about 160,000 years old. The mandible displays morphology that is common among other hominins of this time period – thick mandibular body, large teeth with well-developed cusps on the molars showcasing a Y-fissure pattern, and a dental arcade shape similar to Neanderthals. Ancient DNA testing was not possible due to the state of preservation.

The high-altitude environment on the Tibetan plateau is quite different from the lower altitude of Denisova Cave, indicating the various environments Denisovans occupied. DNA analysis shows that many people of Indonesian, Tibetan, and Australian decent have traces of Denisovan DNA. In fact, present day Tibetans, Sherpas, and neighboring populations have inherited a genetic adaptation from Denisovans that aid in surviving in high altitude environments.

The Bone Clones® Fossil Hominid line is composed of discoveries from anatomically modern humans, archaic humans, early Homo, early hominins, and other hominids. The majority of the casts in this line have been recreated by our team of anatomical sculptors. Some are reconstructions made by anthropology professionals using fragmentary elements from original discoveries and extrapolating the missing parts from those (i.e. Neanderthal skeleton).