Xiahe Denisovans on the Tibetan Plateau

The first talk of this China series, which will take place on Zoom, will be presented by Professor ZHANG Dongju (Archaeologist, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, China) on her leading research of Xiahe Denisovans on the Tibetan Plateau. The discoveries there were listed as top science stories of 2019 by Discover, Science News, and Nova.

The Xiahe mandible, found decades ago in Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, provides new clues on the mysterious Denisovans and started a new era in the studying of Denisovans in East Asia. The mandible was dated at least 160 thousand years old by Uranium Thorium dating and was identified to be from a Denisovan or Denisovan-related population by proteomic study. It indicates that Denisovans had once lived in high elevation environment, which might explain why EPAS 1 gene was found in their genome. Unfortunately, no DNA was extracted from the mandible.

Recent excavation of Baishiya Karst Cave provides more hard evidence about human occupation on the Tibetan Plateau, including genetic and behavioural evidence. Combining with some previous studies about Denisovans and the Tibetan Plateau, this talk will focus on the study of both the mandible and the cave site, trying to provide a better understanding of Xiahe Denisovans on the Tibetan Plateau, and other regions of East Asia.

Register in advance for this event:

• https://ucl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEsc-mhpz4uGtE7vyLgkYYvgqO60-310vNw

After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.