Scientists reveal face of 'completely unknown' human ancestor that rewrites history of our evolution
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Scientists have reconstructed the face of a long-lost human ancestor that may have played a critical role in our evolution. They used the Harbin skull, also known as 'Dragon Man,' which is a 150,000-year-old nearly complete human skull discovered in China in 1933.
![[But there is a strong possibility that the Harbin skull is Denisovan, researchers say. A paleoartist used a plastic replica of this skull to begin reconstructing the Denisovan's face]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/21/94090935-14284357-But_there_is_a_strong_possibility_that_the_Harbin_skull_is_Denis-a-45_1736891752260.jpg)
Paleoartist John Gurche utilized fossils and genetic data from the extinct species to recreate plastic replicas of remains. He estimated the facial features of the ancient hominid using the eye-to-socket size ratio that is shared between African Apes and modern humans, and by measuring aspects of the skull's bone structure to determine the shape and size of the nose.
![[The primary evidence to support the Harbin's skull's Denisovan lineage is the morphological similarity between it and a jawbone found in Xiahe Cave on the Tibetan Plateau in 1980]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/21/94097335-14284357-The_primary_evidence_to_support_the_Harbin_s_skull_s_Denisovan_l-a-48_1736891752261.jpg)
Gurche then overlaid muscle on to the face by following markings on the skull left behind from chewing, revealing the first true look at an 'unknown human.'. The species, named 'Denisovans' after a cave some of their remains were found in, lived between 200,000 and 25,000 years ago.
![[Many other fossils of Denisovan lineage have been recovered across the world, including this molar found in in Laos. But compared to Neanderthals, the Denisovan fossil record is sparse]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/21/94090937-14284357-Many_other_fossils_of_Denisovan_lineage_have_been_recovered_acro-a-44_1736891752096.jpg)
Their fossil and DNA records show that they lived on the Tibetan plateau, but traveled far and wide, with traces of their presence found in Southeast Asia, Siberia and Oceania. Scientists first sequenced their genetic code in 2010 using a 60,000-year-old finger bone recovered from Denisova Cave in Siberia, finding Denisovan DNA in modern-day humans all over the world and particularly in Papua New Guinea populations.
![[Unraveling exactly how the Denisovans were able to travel thousands of miles across the world, and why they disappeared, will require more fossils]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/21/94097333-14284357-Unraveling_exactly_how_the_Denisovans_were_able_to_travel_thousa-a-46_1736891752260.jpg)
Scientists have reconstructed the face of a long-lost human ancestor that may have played a critical role in our evolution. This is strong evidence to suggest that Denisovans interbred with Homo sapiens before they disappeared. Alongside Neanderthals, these ancient humans are our closest extinct relatives.
