Scientists have recovered genetic material from a skull found in northeastern China, which they say reveals the most complete ...

The image of the Neanderthal fingerprint obtained via multi-spectrum analysis. Image credits: Álvarez-Alonso et al© ZME Science The pigmented fingerprint on the face-shaped pebble.

With the Dragon Man skull now linked to Denisovans based on molecular evidence, it will be easier for paleoanthropologists to classify other potential Denisovan remains from China and elsewhere.

Latest Videos ... ‘Dragon Man’ DNA revelation puts a face to a mysterious group of ancient humans By Katie Hunt, CNN Jun 18, 2025 Updated Jun 19, 2025 Hebei GEO University via CNN Newsource ...

Neanderthal fossils have been the subject of study for than a century, but scant details are known about our mysterious Denisovan cousins, and a skull fossil can reveal a great deal.

The man, who was constructing a bridge over the Songhua River when that part of the country was under Japanese occupation, took home the specimen and stored it at the bottom of a well for safekeeping.

The man never retrieved his treasure, and the cranium, with one tooth still attached in the upper jaw, remained unknown to science for decades until his relatives learned about it before his death.