And when those methods were applied, the result was one of the most extraordinary findings in the history of paleoanthropology.

The Altai Mountains Today

The Altai Mountains of modern Russia are a landscape of striking beauty — high peaks, forested valleys, rushing rivers, and the vast sky of Central Asia.

The region is home to indigenous Altaian peoples who have lived in these mountains for generations, and who maintain cultural traditions connected to the landscape and its animals.

The Anui River valley, where Denisova Cave is located, is accessible by road in the modern era, though the distances involved mean it remains relatively remote by the standards of connected modern Europe or North America.

The cave itself is a tourist attraction now — visitors can see the entrance and learn about the extraordinary scientific work that has been done there.