Our ancient relative from Tibet

An ancient jawbone discovered in a cave has been identified as belonging to a member of an ancient species of human living 160,000 years ago.

Researchers traced DnA from the jawbone found on the Tibetan Plateau to the Denisovans, a cousin of modern humans.

It is the first time remains of the species have been identified outside the Denisova Cave in Siberia, where its existence was first determined. They were found nearly 30 years ago but have only now been analysed by the Max Planck Institute in Germany.

Researchers say the work suggests Denisovans were far more numerous, far older and living at much higher altitudes than previously thought.