Tautavel man skull. This skull was found in the Tautavel valley, France. It was initially thought that to represent a link between Homo erectus and Neanderthal man (H. neanderthalensis), but is now thought to be intermediate between H. erectus and H. sapiens. H. erectus was the most widespread of the hominids (relative of humans), and fossils have been found throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. It lived between 1.6-0.3 million years ago. Tautavel man's skull has been dated at around 450,000 years old. H. sapiens appeared around 250,000 years ago, and developed into modern humans (H. sapiens sapiens).