Although the first Minions movie had them hibernating in a cave from 1812 to 1968, the interviewer noted that Minions & Monsters establishes that there are multiple tribes of Minions.

“I was trying to avoid the answer,” said Coffin, noting he’s fully aware of the online theories.

“So the Minions that we know from Minions 1 were stuck in the cave,” he added. “These ones, I don’t know where they were, but they were not part of the Big History.”

Not so clearly, after reading the article.

Disney has entered the chat

Welllll, great. Now can't not see the minions walking a wonky-eyed, late-stage-syphilitic, pug-shaped "dog" w/ a boiled potato head and crusty rimjob moustache. Thanks.