Abstract:
Genetic and fragmented palaeoanthropological data suggest that Denisovans were once widely distributed across eastern Eurasia1-3. Despite limited archaeological evidence, this indicates that Denisovans were capable of adapting to a highly diverse range of environments. Here we integrate zooarchaeological and proteomic analyses of the late Middle to Late Pleistocene faunal assemblage from Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, where a Denisovan mandible and Denisovan sedimentary mitochondrial DNA were found3,4. Using zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry, we identify a new hominin rib specimen that dates to approximately 48-32 thousand years ago (layer 3). Shotgun proteomic analysis taxonomically assigns this specimen to the Denisovan lineage, extending their presence at Baishiya Karst Cave well into the Late Pleistocene. Throughout the stratigraphic sequence, the faunal assemblage is dominated by Caprinae, together with megaherbivores, carnivores, small mammals and birds. The high proportion of anthropogenic modifications on the bone surfaces suggests that Denisovans were the primary agent of faunal accumulation. The chaîne opératoire of carcass processing indicates that animal taxa were exploited for their meat, marrow and hides, while bone was also used as raw material for the production of tools. Our results shed light on the behaviour of Denisovans and their adaptations to the diverse and fluctuating environments of the late Middle and Late Pleistocene of eastern Eurasia.
摘要:
遗传和零散的古人类学数据表明,丹尼索瓦人曾经在Eurasia1-3东部广泛分布。尽管考古证据有限,这表明丹尼索瓦人能够适应高度多样化的环境。在这里,我们整合了青藏高原白石崖喀斯特洞穴中晚期至更新世晚期动物区系的动物考古学和蛋白质组学分析,在那里发现了丹尼索瓦人下颌骨和丹尼索瓦人沉积的线粒体DNA3,4。利用动物考古学的质谱,我们发现了一个新的古人类肋骨标本,可追溯到大约48-32万年前(第3层)。shot弹枪蛋白质组学分析将该标本分类为Denisovan谱系,将它们在白石谷岩溶洞穴的存在扩展到晚更新世。在整个地层序列中,动物群以Caprinae为主,和巨型食草动物一起,食肉动物,小型哺乳动物和鸟类。骨骼表面人为修饰的比例很高,这表明丹尼索瓦人是动物群积累的主要因素。car体加工的研究表明,动物类群被用作肉类,骨髓和隐藏,而骨骼也被用作生产工具的原材料。我们的结果揭示了丹尼索瓦人的行为及其对欧亚大陆东部中更新世晚期和晚更新世的多样化和波动环境的适应。