Long before modern humans dominated the globe, a group of imposing ancient relatives roamed the grasslands of East Asia, standing well above their evolutionary cousins. A recent analysis of leg bones dredged from the seafloor off the coast of Taiwan reveals that Denisovans were among the largest hominins to ever live, with some individuals standing up to 190 centimeters tall and weighing over 90 kilograms.
The findings focus on two fossilized leg bones, designated Penghu 2 and Penghu 3, which were radiocarbon dated to between 43,000 and 45,000 years ago. By analyzing ancient proteins preserved inside the specimens, researchers led by Yousuke Kaifu at the University of Tokyo confirmed that the fossils belonged to Denisovans—an elusive group of archaic humans known primarily through sparse fossil evidence since their initial discovery in 2010.
Estimates derived from the bone dimensions indicate that Penghu 3 in particular was a towering figure for his era. Standing roughly 30 centimeters taller than contemporary Homo erectus populations, his physical build rivaled that of the largest early human specimens found in Europe and Africa, as well as the heaviest Neanderthals. Researchers note that his height and athletic build would have rivaled that of modern professional athletes.
Isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen in the fossilized bones provided rare insights into how these massive hominins lived. Penghu 3 inhabited an open grassland or savannah environment where he consumed a diet rich in animal protein. Experts suggest that Denisovans required such robust physical frames to hunt large game, including prehistoric megaherbivores like elephants, as nomadic foragers traveling vast distances on foot.
Intriguingly, the leg bones also exhibit minor anatomical features shared with modern humans, such as a distinct bony ridge along the thigh bone known as a pilaster. Scientists hypothesize that this feature could reflect structural adaptation to extensive walking across rugged terrain or potentially point to past interbreeding between Denisovans and early Homo sapiens.
The discovery reshapes current understanding of Pleistocene hominin diversity in East Asia. While researchers previously expected species in warmer southern regions to maintain lighter body frames, the Taiwanese fossils demonstrate that giant Denisovans thrived in diverse environments, asserting their presence as formidable apex foragers before their eventual disappearance.