More than 1,300 stone and bone tools were found at Bianfu Cave in sediment layers indicating hominin occupation of the site between 70,000 and 190,000 years ago.
Notes on verification
Confirmed by original Nature paper and multiple independent, high-quality secondary sources (CNN, Live Science, Science News, National Geographic, John Hawks). Minor variation in exact tool count (1,300-1,366) but consistent overall figures and date range.
Sources
- Scientists Find a Trove of Denisovan Fossils and Tools in Southwest ... (smithsonianmag.com)
- https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/09/science/china-denisovan-fossil-discovery (cnn.com)
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10997-4 (nature.com)
- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-fossils-denisovan-secrets-china (sciencenews.org)
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/denisovans-forearm-bone-china (nationalgeographic.com)
- https://www.johnhawks.net/p/new-denisovans-from-chinas-southwest (johnhawks.net)