Homo longi, Denisovans, Neanderthals, and other archaic hominins in eastern Asia prior to the Rise of Homo sapiens

Archaic hominin fossils from East Asia dating to the late Middle Pleistocene and Late Pleistocene display substantial morphological diversity, and their systematic classification has long remained controversial. In this Perspective, we integrate morphological evidence with recent advances in molecular research to re-evaluate the evolutionary landscape of archaic hominins in East Asia prior to the emergence of Homo sapiens, with particular focus on the Harbin cranium and its implications for the taxon Homo longi. Recent paleoproteomic and ancient DNA studies indicate that the Harbin cranium carries Denisovan-related genetic and proteomic signatures and is closely affiliated with Denisovan lineages identified at Xiahe, Penghu, and in the Altai Mountains. When viewed in a broader morphological context, the Harbin cranium and the Xiahe mandible form a sister grouping, together with fossils from Dali, Jinniushan, and Hualongdong, suggesting a coherent East Asian archaic hominin “Homo longi” clade. We propose a unifying taxonomic framework in which East Asian Denisovan populations are provisionally referred to as Homo longi, and discuss the possibility that this lineage comprised multiple deeply divergent populations with the capacity to occupy diverse ecological niches, including high-altitude environments. Future research integrating additional ancient genomes, proteomic data, and high-precision chronologies will be essential to further elucidate the origins, dispersal, environmental adaptations, and contributions of Homo longi populations to the formation of modern humans in East Asia.