Tocantins Man of Brazil: He's not a Homo erectus, more likely a modern Denisovan
Channel: Eric Dondero, Right-Anthro & Human Origins
Date: 2023-08-11

The TikTok video got over 1.6 million views when it first came out in 2019.  Some relatives in the small village of northeastern Brazil took a short video of him dancing to modern music.  They called him "Homo erectus man."  But new genetic evidence strongly suggests he's got Denisovan DNA admixture.

The archaic Denisovan DNA likely came from the island of Java 50,000 to 100,000 years ago.  Denisovans and Homo erectus occupied the island at the same time.  

Polynesian seafarers who crossed the South Pacific very likely carried that Denisovan/Homo erectus admixture with them.  

And now it's showing up in the modern Brazilian population.