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10 Sept 2026 The World, the Universe and Us
The first evidence has been discovered that Denisovans lived in south-west China. This ancient species of human spent over 100,000 years in the region and left behind incredible artefacts that tell us how they lived.

64,000 fragments of bone have been discovered from Bianfu Cave in Yunnan province. And the site tells us a lot about the food they ate and the animals they hunted – including rhinoceroses, hyenas and prime-age deers.

As we discover an increasingly sophisticated culture in this previously mysterious species, what does it teach us about ourselves, and how exceptional Homo sapiens really are?

To discuss the findings, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by science writer Michael Marshall.

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