A study of Denisovan subsistence at Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau reveals their adaptation to diverse environments during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Using zooarchaeological and proteomic analyses of faunal remains, researchers identified a Denisovan rib specimen dated to 48–32 thousand years ago. The faunal assemblage, dominated by Caprinae and megaherbivores, shows evidence of hominin activity, including butchery, marrow extraction, and tool production. The high proportion of anthropogenic modifications on bones indicates Denisovans were the primary agents of faunal accumulation. The study also extends the known presence of Denisovans at the site into the Late Pleistocene, aligning with sedimentary mtDNA findings. The analysis of bone collagen and deamidation levels suggests the age of the specimens matches the stratigraphic layers. The study provides insights into Denisovan behavior, subsistence strategies, and their adaptation to fluctuating environments on the Tibetan Plateau. It also highlights the plasticity of Denisovan paleoecology and behavior, and raises questions about their extinction and genetic legacy in modern humans. The findings contribute to understanding the distribution and survival of Denisovans in eastern Eurasia.A study of Denisovan subsistence at Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau reveals their adaptation to diverse environments during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Using zooarchaeological and proteomic analyses of faunal remains, researchers identified a Denisovan rib specimen dated to 48–32 thousand years ago. The faunal assemblage, dominated by Caprinae and megaherbivores, shows evidence of hominin activity, including butchery, marrow extraction, and tool production. The high proportion of anthropogenic modifications on bones indicates Denisovans were the primary agents of faunal accumulation. The study also extends the known presence of Denisovans at the site into the Late Pleistocene, aligning with sedimentary mtDNA findings. The analysis of bone collagen and deamidation levels suggests the age of the specimens matches the stratigraphic layers. The study provides insights into Denisovan behavior, subsistence strategies, and their adaptation to fluctuating environments on the Tibetan Plateau. It also highlights the plasticity of Denisovan paleoecology and behavior, and raises questions about their extinction and genetic legacy in modern humans. The findings contribute to understanding the distribution and survival of Denisovans in eastern Eurasia.