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Similar Neanderthal, Anatomically modern human, Hominini, Homo heidelbergensis, Flores man | ||
Neanderthal and denisovan genomes
The Denisovan or Denisova hominin ( /dᵻˈniːsəvə/ dɛ-NEE-sə-və) is an extinct species or subspecies of human in the genus Homo. Pending its status as either species or subspecies it currently carries the temporary name Homo sp. Altai, and Homo sapiens ssp. Denisova. In March 2010, scientists announced the discovery of a finger bone fragment of a juvenile female who lived about 41,000 years ago, found in the remote Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains in Siberia, a cave that has also been inhabited by Neanderthals and modern humans. Two teeth belonging to different members of the same population have since been reported. In November 2015, a tooth fossil containing DNA was reported to have been found and studied. A bone needle dated to 50,000 years ago was discovered at the archaeological site in 2016 and is described as the oldest needle known.