Middle and Late Pleistocene Denisovan subsistence at Baishiya Karst Cave

Middle and Late Pleistocene Denisovan subsistence at Baishiya Karst Cave

3 July 2024 | Huan Xia, Dongju Zhang, Jian Wang, Zandra Fagernäs, Ting Li, Yuanxin Li, Juanqing Yao, Dongpeng Lin, Gaudry Troché, Geoff M. Smith, Xiaoshan Chen, Ting Cheng, Xuke Shen, Yuanyuan Han, Jesper V. Olsen, Zhongwei Shen, Zhiqi Pei, Jean-Jacques Hublin, Fahu Chen, Frido Welker
This study integrates zooarchaeological and proteomic analyses of the late Middle to Late Pleistocene faunal assemblage from Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, where Denisovan remains and sedimentary mitochondrial DNA were previously found. The analysis identifies a new Denisovan rib specimen dated to approximately 48–32 thousand years ago, extending their presence at the site into the Late Pleistocene. The faunal assemblage is dominated by Caprinae, megaherbivores, carnivores, small mammals, and birds, with high anthropogenic modifications suggesting that Denisovans were the primary agents of faunal accumulation. The *chaîne opératoire* of carcass processing indicates exploitation for meat, marrow, and hides, with bone also used for tool production. The study provides insights into Denisovan behavior and adaptations to the diverse and fluctuating environments of eastern Eurasia during the late Middle and Late Pleistocene.This study integrates zooarchaeological and proteomic analyses of the late Middle to Late Pleistocene faunal assemblage from Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, where Denisovan remains and sedimentary mitochondrial DNA were previously found. The analysis identifies a new Denisovan rib specimen dated to approximately 48–32 thousand years ago, extending their presence at the site into the Late Pleistocene. The faunal assemblage is dominated by Caprinae, megaherbivores, carnivores, small mammals, and birds, with high anthropogenic modifications suggesting that Denisovans were the primary agents of faunal accumulation. The *chaîne opératoire* of carcass processing indicates exploitation for meat, marrow, and hides, with bone also used for tool production. The study provides insights into Denisovan behavior and adaptations to the diverse and fluctuating environments of eastern Eurasia during the late Middle and Late Pleistocene.
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