Researchers identified the mysterious leg bones as belonging to Denisovans, an ancient human group that split from the Neanderthal lineage about 550,000 years ago. Researchers identified the mysterious leg bones as belonging to Denisovans, an ancient human group that split from the Neanderthal lineage about 550,000 years ago Their extraordinary dimensions led independent researcher Jimmy Corsetti to suggest that Denisovans may have inspired stories about the Nephilim, mysterious beings mentioned in the Bible and often interpreted as giants Above is a painting of David and Goliath, one of the smaller giants in the Bible