Neanderthal Timeline

The Palaeolithic (or Old Stone Age) period, ranging from c. 2,6 million years ago until c. 12,000 years ago.

The Pleistocene epoch, ranging from c. 2,6 million years ago until c. 12,000 years ago. It is characterised by repeated cycles of glacials and interglacials.

Estimated time of divergence between the branch that would develop into Neanderthals on the one hand and Denisovans on the other, and the branch that would lead to Homo sapiens.

Estimated time of divergence of Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Potential earliest arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe.

Neanderthals disappear from the fossil record.

Neanderthals become extinct in Spain, their last European area of settlement.