c. 2600000 BCE - c. 12000 BCE
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.
c. 2600000 BCE - c. 12000 BCE
The Palaeolithic (or Old Stone Age) period, ranging from c. 2,6 million years ago until c. 12,000 years ago.
c. 550000 BCE - c. 765000 BCE
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.
c. 430000 BCE - c. 473000 BCE
Estimated time of divergence of Neanderthals and Denisovans.
c. 40000 BCE - c. 30000 BCE
Neanderthals disappear from the fossil record.
