And then she died, and her bones fell or were placed in the sediment of Denisova Cave, and time did the rest.

The social context of that encounter is entirely speculative.

Both Neanderthals and Denisovans were social beings — the archaeological evidence suggests they lived in small groups, cared for their injured and elderly, used fire, made tools, and possibly had complex communicative and symbolic behavior.

Whether the encounter between Denny’s parents was peaceful coexistence, a raid, an established tradition of contact between neighboring groups, or something else entirely is simply not knowable from the available evidence.

Responsible science holds these uncertainties plainly.