Homo juluensis—a recently identified human species encompassing the mysterious Denisovans and various hominin skeletal remains unearthed in Tibet, Taiwan, and Laos—was indigenous to East Asia, with an estimated existence spanning from approximately 300,000 to 50,000 years ago.
A portrait of a juvenile female Denisovan based on a skeletal profile reconstructed from ancient DNA methylation maps. Image credit: Maayan Harel.
“Our investigation serves to clarify a hominin fossil record that has historically incorporated any specimens not readily classifiable as Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, or Homo sapiens,” observed Professor Christopher Bae from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, alongside Dr. Xiujie Wu from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“While this project commenced several years prior, we did not anticipate the possibility of proposing a novel hominin species, nor of subsequently organizing Asian hominin fossils into distinct groupings. Ultimately, this endeavor should facilitate scientific discourse.”
“This research holds significance as it aids scientists in achieving a more profound comprehension of the intricate narrative of human evolution within Asia, thereby bridging certain knowledge gaps concerning our ancient kin.”
Reconstruction of Homo floresiensis. Image credit: Elisabeth Daynes.
The researchers posit that a minimum of four hominin species—namely Homo floresiensis, Homo luzonensis, Homo longi, and the recently designated Homo juluensis—coexisted in East Asia during the Late Quaternary epoch.
The presence of Homo juluensis in East Asia is estimated to have begun around 300,000 years ago. Evidence suggests they engaged in group hunting activities, targeting wild horses, and were adept at crafting stone implements, potentially also processing animal pelts for sustenance, before their extinction approximately 50,000 years ago.
“Primarily due to an expanding hominin fossil record, the discipline of Late Quaternary East Asian paleoanthropology is undergoing a period of substantial and pivotal transformation, which is contributing immensely to our perception and refinement of evolutionary models,” stated the research team.
“Notably, the field experienced a significant shift two decades ago with the unveiling of the small-bodied Homo floresiensis fossils from the Indonesian island of Flores in 2004.”
“More recently, another diminutive species, Homo luzonensis, discovered on the Philippine island of Luzon, was recognized as a new hominin species.”
“In China, Homo longi was proposed following an examination of the Harbin fossil.”
“Skeletal remains such as those from Dali and Jinniushan may also be provisionally categorized under Homo longi, although further comparative analyses are pending.”
“Most recently, following an in-depth investigation of the Xujiayao and Xuchang fossils, we have incorporated Homo juluensis into these ongoing discussions.”
A reconstruction of Homo longi in his habitat. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.
Critically, the scientists have also allocated the enigmatic Denisovans, along with the Xiahe, Penghu, and Tam Ngu Hao 2 fossils, to the Homo juluensis classification.
It is evident that further investigation is required to substantiate this proposed relationship, which is principally derived from observed congruities between mandible and dental fossils from these diverse locations.
“The East Asian hominin fossil record provides an exemplary illustration of how linear evolutionary models, such as traditional multiregionalism, are insufficient to adequately account for the complexity present in the paleoanthropological record, particularly during the Late Quaternary,” the authors concluded.
“Indeed, the East Asian evidence compels us to acknowledge the profound complexity of human evolution on a broader scale, and it actively urges us to revise and re-evaluate our interpretations of various evolutionary paradigms to better align with the accumulating fossil evidence.”
Their publication appeared in the esteemed journal Nature Communications.
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C.J. Bae & X. Wu. 2024. Making sense of eastern Asian Late Quaternary hominin variability. Nat Commun 15, 9479; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53918-7
