A new kind of early human known as Denisovan was discovered in 2010, and we only had a couple of finger bone fragments. Later on, more fossils were identified as Denisovan, but they were still meager pieces of bone. Most of what we know about them comes from genetic studies, which is how we know that they interbred with both Neanderthals and modern humans. But now, a mostly-complete skull unearthed in China 90 years ago has been identified as a Denisovan. Chinese researchers, who have only had the skull for three years now, called the species Homo longi, or Dragon man.
Recent tests on the remains of the inner ear bones and the plaque from the skull's teeth reveal proteins consistent with Denisovan DNA. It's hard to get complete DNA from a 146,000-year-old fossil. Experts who reviewed the science paper disagree on whether the evidence is enough proof, but if it is, the skull gives us a framework to determine what Denisovans looked like -or at least this one, who was a large man. Read more about the discovery of what another ancient human relative looked like at Smithsonian.
(Image credit: © N. Tamura)