- useful for [[different strains of humans occupied same places in overlapping manner]] - useful for #xref with other examples of early human species interbreeding, i.e. Europeans and Neanderthals. > [!quote] [Ancient Tooth Unlocks Mystery Of Denisovans In Asia](https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2022/05/ancient-tooth-unlocks-mystery-of.html) via [[Archaeology News Network]] > "After all this work following the many clues written on fossils from very different geographic areas our findings are significant," Professor Demeter says. "This fossil represents the first discovery of Denisovans in Southeast Asia and shows that Denisovans were in the south at least as far as Laos. This is in agreement with the genetic evidence found in modern day Southeast Asian populations." > > Following a very detailed analysis of the shape of this tooth, the research team identified many similarities to Denisovan teeth found on the Tibetan Plateau -- the only other location that Denisovan fossils have ever been found. This suggested it was most likely a Denisovan who lived between 164,000 -131,000 years ago in the warm tropics of northern Laos. > > Associate Professor Mike Morley from the Microarchaeology Laboratory at Flinders University says the cave site named Tam Ngu Hao 2 (Cobra cave), was found high up in the limestone mountains containing remnants of an old cemented cave sediment packed with fossils. > > "We have essentially found the 'smoking gun' -- this Denisovan tooth shows they were once present this far south in the karst landscapes of Laos," says Associate Professor Morley. > > The fossils were likely scattered on the landscape when they were washed into the cave during a flooding event that deposited the sediments and fossils. > > Unfortunately, unlike Denisova Cave, the humid conditions in Laos meant the ancient DNA was not preserved. However, the archaeological scientists did find ancient proteins suggesting the fossil was a young, likely female, human likely aged between 3.5 -- 8.5 years old > > The finding suggests Southeast Asia was a hotspot of diversity for humans with at least five different species setting up camp at different times; H. erectus, the Denisovans/Neanderthals, H. floresiensis, H. luzonensis and H. sapiens.