Denisova Cave Stratigraphy & Hominin Timeline Explorer

Chronological Depth: 76,000 BP (76 ka)

MIS 4 (Early Glacial / Steppe-Tundra)

300 ka (Middle Pleistocene) 200 ka 100 ka (MIS 5e Interglacial) 50 ka (Initial Upper Paleolithic) 20 ka (LGM)

Stratigraphic Profile & Occupation Horizon

Paleotemperature Proxy: ~ -4.5°C anomaly (Subarctic Cold Steppe) Active: Denisovan

Click any sedimentary stratum to inspect physical deposit & tool industry East Chamber: Layer 11

Fossil Discoveries & Cultural Material 5 Key Specimens

Denisova 3 (Pinky Bone)

Denisovan Female

Layer 11 (East) ~76 - 52 ka Middle Paleolithic Levallois

The right fifth distal finger phalanx of a juvenile female Denisovan. Yielded the world's first high-coverage archaic genome (~30x) at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, proving Denisovans represent a distinct lineage sister to Neanderthals.

Genomic Significance: Preserved extraordinary endogenous DNA due to constant year-round sub-zero cave temperature (~0°C).

Ancient Admixture: Shared Alleles in Modern Populations

Melanesians & Indigenous Australians 4.0 - 6.0% Denisovan

Mainland East Asians & Tibetans 0.1 - 0.5% (EPAS1 Altitude Gene)

Non-African Global Populations (Neanderthal) 1.8 - 2.4% Neanderthal

Genetic Admixture Flow & Interbreeding Events

Denisova 11 ('Denny') Evidence: Direct F1 offspring born to an Altai Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father carrying distant Neanderthal admixture.

Adaptive Introgression: High-altitude adaptation gene EPAS1 in Tibetans and lipid metabolism alleles in Inuits derived directly from Denisovan pulses.