Holocene

The Holocene is a geological epoch that represents the most recent period in Earth's history and continues to the present day. It began approximately 11,700 years ago, marking the end of the last ice age. The Holocene is part of the larger Quaternary period and follows the Pleistocene.

The defining characteristic of the Holocene is a relatively stable and moderate climate compared to earlier periods. The Earth's global temperature has remained within a narrow range, which enabled the development of agriculture, animal husbandry, and human settlements.

Beginning and definition

The start of the Holocene is marked by the end of a period known as the Younger Dryas, characterized by a rapid increase in global temperature. The global reference point was established using an ice core from Greenland, where layers of ice provide an annual climate record.

Divisions

International geological bodies have divided the Holocene into three stages: the Greenlandian, the earliest; the Northgrippian, the middle; and the Meghalayan, the current stage. These divisions are based on climate changes recorded in ice cores and rock layers.

Human impact

During the Holocene, humans transitioned from hunting and gathering to agriculture. Villages, cities, writing, and industry emerged. Changes to the landscape, extinction of species, and rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in the later Holocene are substantially linked to human activity.