# How deep are the roots of the Denisovan lineage, and how many distinct Denisovan populations were there? · Who were the Denisovans? The Harbin "Dragon Man" cranium > Three answers have been proposed. The lineage goes back about a million years and comprised several deeply diverged regional populations,… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZBE620N5/how-deep-are-the-roots-of-the-denisovan-lineage-and-how-many Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:16+00:00 --- **0** # How deep are the roots of the Denisovan lineage, and how many distinct Denisovan populations were there? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the lineage goes back about a million years and comprised several deeply diverged regional populations,…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The lineage goes back about a million years and comprised several deeply diverged regional populations,… leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters Living people carry DNA from at least three Denisovan groups, and the fossils now span about a million years if Yunxian belongs⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ34J79GV/a-high-coverage-genome-from-a-200-000-year-old-denisovan)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ25A7GRA/the-phylogenetic-position-of-the-yunxian-cranium-elucidates). This is what remains open after the identity question. ## Answers 3 [**The lineage goes back about a million years and comprised several deeply diverged regional populations,…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/answers/ANS0CZKZH9P2WR1/the-lineage-goes-back-about-a-million-years-and-comprised) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**Denisovans were a single, relatively recent population that spread across Asia in the late Middle Pleistocene.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/answers/ANS0CZKZJ8Y24V2/denisovans-were-a-single-relatively-recent-population-that) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/answers/ANS0CZKZJRJ6E5T/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2019[Jacobs et al.: papuans carry two deeply divergent Denisovan components.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ3CC3N62/multiple-deeply-divergent-denisovan-ancestries-in-papuans)For: The lineage goes back about a million years and comprised several deeply diverged regional populations,… 1. 2019[Jacobs et al.: introgressed Denisovan ancestry in living people comes from distinct, deeply diverged sources.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ3CC3N62/multiple-deeply-divergent-denisovan-ancestries-in-papuans)Against: Denisovans were a single, relatively recent population that spread across Asia in the late Middle Pleistocene. 1. 2025[Peyrégne et al. puts forward: the lineage goes back about a million years and comprised several deeply diverged regional populations,…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ34J79GV/a-high-coverage-genome-from-a-200-000-year-old-denisovan) 1. 2025[Peyrégne et al.: at least three Denisovan groups contributed to living people; Oceanians and South Asians share a deeply…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ34J79GV/a-high-coverage-genome-from-a-200-000-year-old-denisovan)For: The lineage goes back about a million years and comprised several deeply diverged regional populations,… 1. 2025[Feng et al.: yunxian 2 places as an early member of the longi clade on morphometrics.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ25A7GRA/the-phylogenetic-position-of-the-yunxian-cranium-elucidates)For: The lineage goes back about a million years and comprised several deeply diverged regional populations,… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZBE620N5/how-deep-are-the-roots-of-the-denisovan-lineage-and-how-many%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZBE620N5/how-deep-are-the-roots-of-the-denisovan-lineage-and-how-many%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZBE620N5/how-deep-are-the-roots-of-the-denisovan-lineage-and-how-many%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZBE620N5/how-deep-are-the-roots-of-the-denisovan-lineage-and-how-many%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZBE620N5/how-deep-are-the-roots-of-the-denisovan-lineage-and-how-many%23add-source) Where it fits Who were the Denisovans? The Harbin "Dragon Man" cranium **How deep are the roots of the Denisovan lineage, and how many distinct Denisovan populations were there?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]