Story perspectives

Neanderthal Decline Linked to Cold Spell, Genetic Isolation

3/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Neanderthal population declined during a cold spell around 75,000 years ago, reducing genetic diversity and signaling extinction.
Climatic shifts contracted the population toward southwestern Europe, especially France.
A new lineage emerged after 60,000 years ago, but the population did not grow.
An individual named Thorin, found in France, belonged to an older lineage.
Small, isolated groups may have increased extinction risk by allowing harmful variants to accumulate.

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Story summary

The Neanderthal population declined during a cold spell around 75,000 years ago, reducing genetic diversity and signaling extinction.
Climatic shifts contracted the population toward southwestern Europe, especially France.
A new lineage emerged after 60,000 years ago, but the population did not grow.
An individual named Thorin, found in France, belonged to an older lineage.
Small, isolated groups may have increased extinction risk by allowing harmful variants to accumulate.