Extinct Denisovans May Have Been Some of the Biggest Humans of the Ice Age

Key Points:

• Two Denisovan leg bones dredged from the seafloor west of Taiwan suggest these ancient humans were unusually large, with estimated heights around 1.8 to 1.9 meters (6 to 6 ft 3 in) and weights between 83 and 91 kilograms (183 to 200 lbs), making them among the largest humans of the Pleistocene era.
• The bones, dated to about 45,000 years ago, were identified as Denisovan through protein analysis, as ancient DNA was not recoverable; this method builds on prior work that linked Denisovan fossils outside Siberia via proteomics.
• The large body size of these Denisovans challenges simple explanations based on cold climate adaptations, as the fossils come from a subtropical region, suggesting alternative factors such as a terrestrial hunting lifestyle or regional population variation.
• Anatomically, the leg bones show a mix of archaic and modern human features, including a femoral ridge associated with extensive walking, raising the possibility of gene flow between Denisovans and early modern humans, though genetic confirmation is lacking.
• These findings add significant new information to the sparse Denisovan fossil record, expanding understanding of their physical appearance, geographic range, and ecological adaptations beyond the previously known Siberian and Tibetan fossils.