Denisovans, Neanderthals, and Early Modern Humans: A Review of the Pleistocene Hominin Fossils from the Altai Mountains (Southern Siberia)

Kuzmin, Yaroslav V.; Slavinsky, V. S.; Цыбанков, А. А.; Keates, Susan G.

doi:10.1007/s10814-021-09164-2

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…The Khudji Neanderthal therefore further establishes the presence of Neanderthals in Central Asia and demonstrates the potential of palaeoproteomics to resolve the taxonomic identity of hominin fossils recovered in the region. Given the complex occupational histories recovered from the southern Altai, further east, where across the Late Pleistocene the presence of Neanderthals, Denisovans, and modern humans is attested (Kuzmin et al, 2022; Skov et al, 2022; Zavala et al, 2021), a similarly complex scenario might exist for Central Asia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cleaning the Dead: Optimized decontamination enhances palaeoproteomic analyses of Pleistocene skeletal material

Fagernäs,

Villa Islas,

Troché

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The study of ancient proteins preserved in a range of archaeological, cultural heritage, and palaeontological materials is increasingly contributing to our understanding of human evolution and archaeological research questions. Many of the specimens studied have been excavated and stored for a significant duration prior to their proteomic analysis. Human handling and storage environments therefore provide ample opportunities for protein contamination onto and into specimens of interest to palaeoproteomic studies. As such, modern protein contamination limits access to endogenous proteomes. Here, we compare five approaches of bone protein decontamination applied to a PleistoceneEquussp. bone fragment contaminated with a modern dog salivary proteome. We find that all tested methods reduce the protein contamination, but with different efficiencies. We find that a brief bleach wash is the most effective approach in removing modern protein contamination, and that no additional damage is caused to the endogenous proteome by this treatment. Next, we apply this approach to a hominin tooth found at Khudji, a Late Pleistocene archaeological site in Tajikistan. We demonstrate that a brief bleach wash removes almost all human skin protein contamination while retaining the endogenous hominin dentine proteome. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of the Khudji dentine proteome allowed determination that the specimen likely represents a Neanderthal, extending the fossil evidence for Neanderthals in Central Asia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cleaning the Dead: Optimized decontamination enhances palaeoproteomic analyses of Pleistocene skeletal material

Fagernäs,

Villa Islas,

Troché

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…Establishing whether such possible branching entailed cultural or demic diffusion is problematic due to the undiagnostic character of the lithic industries associated with both Northern Chinese ornament traditions. The direct dating of Homo sapiens remains from Tianyuan Cave, attesting to the presence of modern humans in Northern China at 42 ka (Shang et al, 2007), implies that, if confirmed, such demic diffusion occurred shortly after the arrival of modern human populations in Siberia (Kuzmin et al, 2021). Aside from the Hutouliang site complex which yielded OESBs associated with stone and bone pendants, the relative absence of sites younger than 25 ka and belonging to the eastern tradition may certainly be due to the fact that these sites exist but have yet to be found.…”

Section: Personal Ornaments and Late Pleistocene Population Dynamics In Northern Chinamentioning

confidence: 93%

Zhoukoudian Upper Cave personal ornaments and ochre: Rediscovery and reevaluation

d’Errico

Martí

Wei

et al. 2021

Journal of Human Evolution

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Personal ornaments have become a key cultural proxy to investigate cognitive evolution, modern human dispersal and population dynamics. Here we reassess personal ornaments found at Zhoukoudian Upper Cave and compare them with those from other Late Paleolithic Northern Chinese sites. We reappraise the information provided by Pei Wen Chung on Upper Cave personal ornaments lost during WWII and analyze casts of 17 of them, along with two unpublished objects displayed at the Zhoukoudian Site Museum and three original perforated teeth rediscovered at the Zhoukoudian Site Museum. We apply archeozoological, technological and use-wear analyses to document variation in ornamental practices and their change throughout the site stratigraphy. Badger, fox, red deer, sika deer, marten and tiger teeth as well as carp bone, bird bone, Anadara shell, limestone beads and perforated pebble appear to have been the preferred objects used as ornaments by Upper Cave visitors. Multivariate analysis of technological data highlights a correspondence between cultural layers and perforation techniques, with radial incising being typical of layer L2 and bidirectional incising of L4. The three rediscovered badger canines display features suggesting they were sewed on clothing rather than suspended from necklaces or bracelets. Elemental (SEM-EDS) and mineralogical (µ-Raman) analyses of red residues adhering to the rediscovered teeth indicate these objects were originally coated with ochre and identify variations that match differences in technology. The two ornaments exhibited at the Zhoukoudian Site Museum are ancient teeth that were recently perforated and should be excluded from the Upper Cave assemblage. A seriation of Late Paleolithic ornaments found at Northern Chinese sites identifies a clear-cut difference in preferred ornament types between western and eastern sites, interpreted as reflecting two longlasting traditions in garment symbolic codes.

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“…( 99 ), Denisova Cave from at least 40,000 cal B.P. ( 61 , 100 ), Malaya Syia 36,000 cal B.P. ( 61 ), Sunghir 34,000 cal B.P.…”

Section: Archaeological Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…at Denisova Cave, which was occupied successively by Denisovans from 130,000 to 73,000 years ago and Neanderthals from >59,000 years ago to 50,000 cal B.P. ( 35 , 79 , 100 , 113 ). H. sapiens also occupied Denisova Cave, probably after 40,000 cal B.P., based on the occurrence of Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) lithic artifacts and genetic evidence, although uncertainties remain ( 100 , 114 ).…”

Section: Archaeological Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…( 35 , 79 , 100 , 113 ). H. sapiens also occupied Denisova Cave, probably after 40,000 cal B.P., based on the occurrence of Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) lithic artifacts and genetic evidence, although uncertainties remain ( 100 , 114 ). Other sites with early eyed needles are Mezmaiskaya Cave in the Caucasus ~38,000 cal B.P.…”

Section: Archaeological Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

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Paleolithic eyed needles and the evolution of dress

Gilligan,

d’Errico,

Doyon

et al. 2024

Sci. Adv.

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Eyed needles are among the most iconic of Paleolithic artifacts, traditionally seen as rare indicators of prehistoric clothing, particularly tailoring. However, recent finds across Africa and Eurasia show that other technologies like bone awls also facilitated the creation of fitted garments. Nonetheless, the advent of delicate eyed needles suggests a demand for more refined, efficient sewing. This refinement may signify two major developments: the emergence of underwear in layered garment assemblages, and/or a transition in adornment from body modification to decorating clothes, as humans covered themselves more completely for thermal protection. Archaeological evidence for underwear is limited, but the Upper Paleolithic saw an increase in personal ornaments, some sewn onto clothing. Eyed needles may mark a pivotal shift as clothes acquired the social functions of dress, decoupling clothing from climate and ensuring its enduring presence.

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Denisovans, Neanderthals, and Early Modern Humans: A Review of the Pleistocene Hominin Fossils from the Altai Mountains (Southern Siberia)

Cited by 6 publications

References 93 publications

Cleaning the Dead: Optimized decontamination enhances palaeoproteomic analyses of Pleistocene skeletal material

Cleaning the Dead: Optimized decontamination enhances palaeoproteomic analyses of Pleistocene skeletal material

Zhoukoudian Upper Cave personal ornaments and ochre: Rediscovery and reevaluation

Paleolithic eyed needles and the evolution of dress

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