Scientists know little about this extinct subspecies that fall between modern humans and Neanderthals, named Denisovans, and this recent discovery could be proof they lived outside of Siberia.
first explored a tiny remote cave in northern Laos, she didn't expect to find anything compelling. She was used to working in sediment at the bottom of caves and didn't see anything of interest. But then she shined her flashlight towards the cave's walls and immediately noticed a mosaic of prehistoric teeth that had formed on its surface.
Additionally, the tooth wasn't finished developing, and it had never been used. This meant the tooth had not pushed through the gum, so it likely belonged to a young child who hadn't yet sprouted their adult molars. Using the proteins that form from DNA, researchers could also discern that it was a little girl.Denisovans are an extinct subspecies that fall between modern humans and Neanderthals that once lived in what is now Siberia.
It's also important because tropical climates like Laos typically don't have as many preserved fossils because of the climate, says"Any new human fossil from an under-represented area like Laos is important, especially if it's a non-sapiens fossil, as this clearly seems to be," says Stringer, "If it is a Denisovan, it would extend the known range of these ancient humans into Southeast Asia, where we previously guessed they must have lived.
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