Fuyan Cave
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福岩洞 | |
  Shown within China | |
| Location | Hunan, China |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 25°39′02.7″N 111°28′49.2″E / 25.650750°N 111.480333°E |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 2011, 2013 |
Fuyan Cave (Chinese: 福岩洞) is a complex of limestone caves in Tangbei village, Lefutang town, Daoxian,[1] Hunan province, south central China famous for the discovery of the oldest evidence for unambiguously fully modern humans outside Africa.[2] 47 human teeth, dating to between 80,000 and 120,000 years ago, were discovered at Fuyan Cave.[3] The teeth are also unusual for showing signs of cavities, a feature typically not found in teeth older than 50,000 years.[3] However, a later study focusing on autosomal DNA analysis of the remains challenged this assertion, and found that the remains were younger than previously suspected.[4]
Discovery
Fuyan Cave was discovered in 1984.[1] The cave is located at latitude 25°39′02.7″N, longitude 111°28′49.2″E, at 232 m above sea level.[1]
The cave was excavated in 2011 over an area of 20 m2 (220 sq ft).[1] The 2011 excavation revealed 5 hominin teeth and fossil remains from 39 different mammalians species, including some extinct ones.[1] The cave was excavated in 2011 and in 2013.[6][5] The teeth were all discovered in the middle cave.[5]
Dating
The teeth were dated by dating nearby stalagmites.[7][8][9] The stalagmites were dated to at least 80,000 years.[7] Since the teeth were found under rock over which the stalagmites had grown, the teeth must be older than 80,000 years old.[7] More recent ancient DNA analysis of these remains indicated that the remains dated instead to the Holocene, although these recent findings are still under review.[4]
Specimen number FY-HT2 (9380±90 BP) in new study was incorrect identified as human teeth.[10] Reconstructions of "deer-like" wear bear no resemblance to the preservational reality of the tooth FY-HT-2.[11]
