Denisovans vs Homo sapiens: A Tale of Two Diets in Prehistoric Southeast Asia [Paper]

via Scientific Reports, 27 September 2023: Study by Bacon et al. delves into the environmental contexts and dietary habits of Denisovans and early Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia, particularly in Laos. Using stable isotope values and faunal evidence, the research reveals that Denisovans primarily consumed plants and/or animals from open forests and savannahs, despite the presence of nearby canopy forests. In contrast, early Homo sapiens exploited resources from more forested areas, indicating different adaptive strategies between the two species.

Secure environmental contexts are crucial for hominin interpretation and comparison. The discovery of a Denisovan individual and associated fauna at Tam Ngu Hao 2 (Cobra) Cave, Laos, dating back to 164–131 ka, allows for environmental comparisons between this (sub)tropical site and the Palearctic Denisovan sites of Denisova Cave (Russia) and Baishiya Karst Cave (China). Denisovans from northern latitudes foraged in a mix of forested and open landscapes, including tundra and steppe. Using stable isotope values from the Cobra Cave assemblage, we demonstrate that, despite the presence of nearby canopy forests, the Denisovan individual from Cobra Cave primarily consumed plants and/or animals from open forests and savannah. Using faunal evidence and proxy indicators of climates, results herein highlight a local expansion of rainforest at ~ 130 ka, raising questions about how Denisovans responded to this local climate change. Comparing the diet and habitat of the archaic hominin from Cobra Cave with those of early Homo sapiens from Tam Pà Ling Cave (46–43 ka), Laos, it appears that only our species was able to exploit rainforest resources.

Source: Palaeoenvironments and hominin evolutionary dynamics in southeast Asia | Scientific Reports