What is the "Dragon Man" skull and its significance to Denisovans?

The "Dragon Man" skull is a 146,000-year-old fossil found in China, now identified as likely belonging to the Denisovan group, providing the first physical evidence of their appearance.

When was the Denisovan population first discovered, and where?

The Denisovan population was first identified in 2010 from DNA extracted from a 60,000-year-old pinkie finger bone found in Denisova Cave, Siberia.

What new genetic information has been recovered from Denisovan fossils recently?

Recent findings include mitochondrial DNA from the "Dragon Man" skull's dental calculus and a full Denisovan genome from a 200,000-year-old tooth, revealing interbreeding with Neanderthals and unknown groups.

Home / Science / Face of Ancient Hominin Found: "Dragon Man" Skull Links to Denisovans

Face of Ancient Hominin Found: "Dragon Man" Skull Links to Denisovans

28 Dec, 2025

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Summary

The "Dragon Man" skull, 146,000 years old, has been linked to enigmatic Denisovans.
DNA from dental calculus and protein fragments confirm the Denisovan link.
This discovery may lead to renaming other Denisovan fossils as Homo longi.

Face of Ancient Hominin Found: "Dragon Man" Skull Links to Denisovans

In 2025, a significant breakthrough occurred in understanding human evolution with the identification of the "Dragon Man" skull, found in China. This 146,000-year-old fossil has now been linked to the mysterious Denisovans, an ancient human population previously known only through DNA. The discovery provides the first physical representation of this enigmatic group.

Genetic material, including mitochondrial DNA from dental calculus and protein fragments from bone samples, was successfully extracted from the "Dragon Man" skull. These analyses, published in June 2025, strongly suggest the skull belongs to the Denisovan lineage, potentially leading to the official scientific name Homo longi for this group and other related fossils.