Palaeoproteomic evidence for late Middle Pleistocene Homo erectus in mainland East Asia

ABSTRACT: Hominin fossil and genetic evidence indicate that several hominin populations occupied East and Southeast Asia during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Despite the existence of well-documented hominin fossil collections north of 25°N latitude and south of 7°S latitude, on Java, H. erectus fossils remain scarce in southern China and mainland Southeast Asia. This submission contains palaeoproteomic data of five fauna specimens from Naxian Cave, three hominin specimens from Naxian Cave, and two hominin specimens from Baxian Cave. These two sites are dated to the Late Middle Pleistocene and located in, in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China. Palaeoproteomic analysis reveals the presence of an endogenous dental proteome in all five hominin teeth studied molecularly and indicates that four of the teeth derive from male individuals. Four specimens represent a hominin population previously unsampled using genetic or proteomic methods, providing novel information on the spatiotemporal distribution of H. erectus in the Pleistocene of East Asia.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Ailuropoda Tapirus Sp. Rhinoceros Homo Unclassified Elephas Proboscidea <placentals>

TISSUE(S): Tooth, Tooth Enamel

SUBMITTER: Frido Welker  

LAB HEAD: Frido Welker

PROVIDER: PXD072522 | Pride | 2026-10-07

REPOSITORIES: Pride