Ancient Asia may have been home to more diverse human species than previously thought, with researchers identifying four distinct groups that once roamed the eastern regions of the continent. The discovery is forcing scientists to rethink how our species evolved and interacted with other human relatives.
A study published in Nature Communications has identified a new human species named Homo juluensis, which includes the mysterious Denisovans—ancient human relatives previously known mainly through DNA evidence. The finding is part of a larger revelation that eastern Asia was a complex mosaic of different human species during the Late Quaternary period, roughly 300,000 to 50,000 years ago.
Rewriting the Family Album
Professor Christopher J. Bae from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, who has studied human ancestors across Asia for over three decades, compares the work to organizing an old family photo album. “This study clarifies a hominin fossil record that has tended to include anything that cannot easily be assigned to Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis or Homo sapiens,” he explains.
A More Complex Picture Emerges
The research reveals that eastern Asia was home to at least four distinct human species during the Late Quaternary period: Homo floresiensis, Homo luzonensis, Homo longi, and the newly classified Homo juluensis. This diversity challenges previous assumptions about human evolution in the region.
Until recently, scientists had taken a more conservative approach, grouping most Asian fossils into broader categories. However, new discoveries and analyses are revealing a much more intricate picture of human evolution in the region.
Beyond Simple Origins
The findings are reshaping our understanding of human origins. Rather than supporting either the traditional “Out of Africa” or “multiregional evolution” models, the evidence suggests a more complex story of multiple waves of human dispersal and interaction.
The research indicates that modern humans across Eurasia likely arose through a combination of dispersals and interactions with indigenous populations, rather than through a simple replacement or continuous evolution scenario.
An Ongoing Discovery
The story continues to evolve as new fossils are discovered. For example, the Hualongdong site in central-eastern China has yielded fossils from around 300,000 years ago that show a unique mix of characteristics, defying easy classification into any known species.
Looking Forward
The eastern Asian fossil record is prompting scientists to recognize just how complex human evolution truly was. As researchers continue their work, they expect to uncover even more evidence of diverse human species that once called Asia home.
“Although we started this project several years ago, we did not expect being able to propose a new hominin species and then to be able to organize the hominin fossils from Asia into different groups,” notes Bae. “Ultimately, this should help with science communication.”