Denisova Cave

Denisova Cave (Russian: Денисова пещера, romanized: Denísova peshchéra, lit. 'the cave of Denis') is a cave in the Bashelaksky Range of the Altai Mountains in Siberia, Russia. This cave has given us some of the most exciting discoveries about our early human ancestors. In 2008, scientists found bone pieces that, in 2010, were proven to belong to a brand new group of early humans called the Denisova hominin, named after the cave itself.

Besides these important human remains, the cave also holds many other ancient objects. Some of these artifacts are about 40,000 years old. Scientists have even found the remains of a horse that lived around 32,000 years ago. The cave seems to have been a home to different groups of ancient people, including Neanderthals and our own ancestors, Homo sapiens. In 2016, a very old bone needle was found, dating back to 50,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest needles ever discovered.

For a time, the people found in the cave were called "Denisovans", using the name Homo denisova. But in June 2025, scientists learned that these people actually belong to a group known as Homo longi, so the name H. denisova is no longer used. Denisova Cave continues to be a very important place for learning about the distant past of humans and their relatives.

Description

Denisova Cave is located in Altai Krai, close to the Altai Republic in Russia. It is near a village called Chorny Anui and about 150 km south of the city Barnaul. The cave sits about 28 meters above the Anuy River, a smaller river that flows into the larger Ob. It formed in old limestone and has a space of around 270 square meters.

Inside the cave, scientists have found many old bones from animals, both big and small. Some of these animals are no longer alive today, like the cave hyena and the cave lion. Researchers also study pollen found in the cave to learn about past climates.

History

In the 1700s, the cave was home to a hermit named Dyonisiy, and it was named after him.

In the 1970s, scientists found very old items in the cave, leading to more digging. They found tools made by early humans, including tools made by Neanderthals. They also found beautiful decorations made from bones, teeth, and shells, as well as a tiny needle made from bird bone that is about 50,000 years old. The cave shows that different kinds of early humans lived there at different times.

In 2019, scientists found a very small statue of a cave lion made from a woolly mammoth tusk, which might be the oldest animal statue ever found.

Archaeogenetics

The cave stays very cold, around 0 °C, which helps preserve old DNA from the bones found there.

Denisova hominin

Main article: Denisova hominin

Scientists studied the cave and found bones left there between 30,000 and 48,000 years ago. One bone, from a child's finger, was examined closely. It showed DNA that was different from any known humans before, and it was named the Denisova hominin. This discovery showed that Denisovans were related to Neanderthals and had mixed with the ancestors of some modern people.

Neanderthal remains: the Altai Neanderthal

In 2010, a toe bone was found in the cave. Tests showed it belonged to a Neanderthal, not a Denisovan. This was one of the oldest and most complete Neanderthal genomes ever studied.

Denisova 11: a first-generation Neanderthal and Denisovan hybrid

Main article: Denny (hybrid hominin)

Scientists used special methods to study many small bone pieces from the cave. One piece, called Denisova 11, was found to be from a girl who had a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. This was the first clear proof of a child from two different ancient human groups.

DNA from soil

Tests on soil from the cave found DNA from Neanderthals and Denisovans, even in places where no bones were found before.

Equus ovodovi

Scientists also found DNA from an ancient horse, Equus ovodovi, in the cave. This helped them learn more about how horses evolved.

Ancient North Eurasian woman

Main article: Ancient North Eurasian

A deer tooth pendant with DNA from an Ancient North Eurasian woman was found in the cave, showing links to people who lived far to the east.

Fossils

Scientists have found the remains of seven different people in Denisova Cave, and they figured this out by looking at their DNA. Four of these people are called Denisovans. Among them were two young girls named Denisova 2 and Denisova 3, and two adult boys named Denisova 4 and Denisova 8. There was also another person known as Denisova 25, who lived about 200,000 years ago.

One of the people found was a woman from a group called Neanderthals. Before scientists learned more about her, she was known as Denisova 5. In 2018, scientists discovered a very special person named Denisova 11. This person had DNA from both Neanderthals and Denisovans, making them a mix of the two groups.

The cave also had remains of many animals, including woolly mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, wild horses, and many types of deer, wolves, and bears.