The fossil’s jawbone boasts a distinctive triangular contour and curvature, echoing the anatomical traits found in both contemporary Homo sapiens and late Pleistocene hominids, which branched out nearly three-quarters of a million years ago. HLD 6 deviates from the norm by conspicuously lacking a chin, a trait that aligns more closely with the Denisovans.
Our complex lineages: Aside from its anatomical characteristics, the fossil’s age raises tantalizing questions about the emergence of modern human traits. While HLD 6 is believed to have belonged to a 12- to 13-year-old individual, its shape patterns remain consistent with adult Pleistocene hominins.