The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to

The Denisovans, or Denisova hominins, are an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans belonging to the genus Homo.

Significant discoveries include a jawbone found on the Tibetan Plateau, dating back over 160,000 years. This was the first Denisovan specimen discovered outside the Siberian cave, where the hominin was initially uncovered a decade prior, suggesting a wider distribution than previously known.

Notably, this identification marked the first time an ancient human was identified solely through protein analysis, due to the lack of usable DNA.

Therefore, Denisovans refer to an early human species.

Sources:

• Nature - Denisovans