2026年10月21日，中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所付巧妹等科学家在《自然》发表研究，揭示了中更新世许家窑的蛋白质组与丹尼索瓦人共有形态。

东亚晚中更新世古人类的分类和系统发育仍存在很大争议。许家窑是一个关键的代表性化石组合，拥有大量化石和清晰的地层，年代约为19.9万至13.8万年前，已被广泛研究，但其演化地位仍不确定。在此，为阐明这一问题，研究人员通过古蛋白质组分析以及与其它东亚晚中更新世古老型人类的形态比较，对许家窑材料进行了分析。对两件标本的蛋白质组分析鉴定出18种内源性蛋白质，丹尼索瓦人特有的COL1A2-996 R>K突变强烈支持它们属于丹尼索瓦人谱系。扩展分析识别出丹尼索瓦人化石（许家窑和哈尔滨）与其它东亚晚中更新世古老型人类（如金牛山、大荔和华龙洞）之间的一组共有形态特征，表明它们都属于丹尼索瓦人谱系。该分析提供了对丹尼索瓦人特征的全面认识，既显示出令人联想到直立人的特征（如厚的颅壁），也显示出智人的特征（如强烈拱起的颞鳞）。它们还与晚期尼安德特人共有特征，如颞骨迷路结构和枕上凹的存在。值得注意的是，丹尼索瓦人具有独特性，包括低平的颅部轮廓、近乎平行的侧壁、巨大的眶上圆枕、平坦的颧上颌区和较弱的颌突。

附：英文原文

Title: The proteome of Middle Pleistocene Xujiayao and common Denisovan morphology

Author: Xing, Song, Wu, Zhongyou, Shao, Qingfeng, Ge, Junyi, Bennett, E. Andrew, Rao, Huiyun, Lin, Sungui, Zhao, Yuhao, Liu, Feng, Liu, Yichen, Zhou, Kai, Feng, Xiaotian, Jiangzuo, Qigao, Fu, Qiaomei

Issue&Volume: 2026-10-21

Abstract: The taxonomy and phylogeny of late Middle Pleistocene hominins in East Asia remain highly debated1. Xujiayao, a key representative assemblage with many fossils and a clear stratigraphy dating to around 199–138thousand years ago, has been extensively studied, but its evolutionary position remains uncertain. Here, to clarify this, we analysed Xujiayao material through both palaeoproteomic analysis and morphological comparisons with other East Asian late Middle Pleistocene archaic Homo. Proteomic analysis of two specimens identified 18 endogenous proteins, and the Denisova-specific COL1A2-996 R>K mutation strongly supported their affiliation with the Denisovan lineage. Extended analysis identifies a set of shared morphological traits between Denisovan fossils (Xujiayao and Harbin) and other East Asian late Middle Pleistocene archaic Homo (such as Jinniushan, Dali and Hualongdong), indicating that they all belong to the Denisovan lineage. This analysis provides a comprehensive view of Denisovan features, showing both traits reminiscent of Homo erectus (such as a thick cranial vault) and those characteristic of modern humans (for example, a strongly arched temporal squama). They also share features with late Neanderthals, such as the structure of the temporal labyrinth and the presence of a suprainiac fossa. Notably, Denisovans are distinctive, with a low cranial profile with near-parallel lateral walls, a massive supraorbital torus, a flat zygomaxillary region and weak prognathism.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-11132-z

Source:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-11132-z