Perspective

Tracing the Origin and Migration of Humans— Significant Progress in Paleoanthropological and Paleolithic Fields Made by IVPP

^a Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China
^b University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049

^* To whom correspondence may be addressed at fuqiaomei@ivpp.ac.cn
^† To whom correspondence may be addressed at zhangxiaoling@ivpp.ac.cn
^‡ To whom correspondence may be addressed at xingsong@ivpp.ac.cn

Abstract

Over the past 15 years, the Paleoanthropological and Paleolithic team from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made significant progress in understanding modern human origins and evolution through extensive fieldwork, fossil and artifact discoveries, and cutting-edge ancient molecular analysis. The new fossil findings from Hualongdong, Xuchang, the first report on Harbin, and the reevaluations of previously found fossils like Xujiayao revealed high population diversity in East Asia during the late Middle Pleistocene, implying multiple evolutionary lineages linked to modern humans, Neanderthals, or Denisovans. Different species names were proposed for these unique fossils. Discoveries from Zhiren Cave and Fuyan Cave refreshed our knowledge of modern human emergence in China, sparking debates between the “Recent African Origin” and “Multiregional Evolution” hypothesis. Additionally, new archaeological evidence from Nwya Devu and Xiamabei highlighted human adaptations to extreme climates and technological innovations. Genomic studies further revealed complex patterns of modern human dispersal, admixture, and adaptation in China, especially in the past 40,000 years. The first mitochondrial DNA of Denisovan outside Denisova Cave was successfully extracted from the sediments on the Plateau, suggesting the long-term occupation of this population in this area.