A huge discovery
This bone fragment, called "Denisova 11," was found in 2012 at Denisova Cave in Russia by archaeologists. New DNA evidence reveals the bone originally came from a girl or woman who was the daughter of a Neandertal mother and a Denisovan father.
Remote cave
Here, a view of the Denisova Cave archaeological site in Russia, where the leg bone was found along with bones from Neanderthals and Denisovans.
Siberian locale
Another view of the valley from above the Denisova Cave archaeological site, Russia.
Hidden treasures
The valley in Siberia where the Denisova Cave archaeological site sits. It has yielded many new insights into some of our extinct, ancient human relatives.
Entering the site
View of the entrance to the Denisova Cave archaeological site, Russia.
Excavations continue
Researchers excavate the East Chamber of Denisova Cave, where the leg bone was found.
Unearthing bones
Here, researchers continue to excavate the East Chamber of Denisova Cave.
Layers of history
This stratigraphic profile of the East Chamber in Denisova Cave can reveal the ages of different archaeological finds.
Researchers unearth the past
Richard (Bert) Roberts, Vladimir Ulianov and Maxim Kozlikin (clockwise from top) excavate in the East Chamber of Denisova Cave. The cave was already known to contain Neanderthal and Denisovan bones, though not necessarily from the same period.
Clean room
Here, the clean laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, where the ancient DNA was analyzed. Researchers must be meticulous to avoid contaminating ancient DNA samples.
Isolating the genes
Researcher work in the clean laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
