Homo sapiens, having evolved in Africa about 300,000 years ago, reached the region where Israel is now located, where it encountered Neanderthals, with whom it created a Sapiens-Neanderthal hybrid. However, this hybrid did not initially continue toward Europe, not until about 60,000 years ago, when a second push out of Africa spread Homo sapiens to Asia and then, 37,000 years ago, to Europe. Almost simultaneously, the Neanderthals became extinct in Europe.
