Pleistocene epoch
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Definition
Proper noun A geological epoch within the Quaternary period, spanning from approximately 2.58 million to 11,700 years before the present. It is characterized by repeated cycles of extensive glaciation (ice ages) in the Northern Hemisphere and is the epoch during which the genus Homo evolved and dispersed.
Usage
The term is used in scientific contexts, particularly geology, paleontology, and archaeology, to refer to this specific time period in Earth's history. - Fossils from the Pleistocene epoch provide crucial evidence for human evolution. - Many large mammals, known as megafauna, went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene epoch.
Advanced Usage
- "Pleistocene" as a standalone term: The word "Pleistocene" is commonly used alone to refer to the epoch.
- Pleistocene glaciers shaped much of the landscape we see today.
- In formal stratigraphy, it is part of the Cenozoic Era, Neogene Period (or Quaternary Period, depending on the timescale used).
Variants and Related Words
- Pleistocene (adj/n): The adjectival form or shorthand for the Pleistocene epoch.
- Pleistocene deposits; the Pleistocene
- Glacial period (n): A colder phase within the Pleistocene characterized by ice sheet advance.
- Interglacial (n/adj): A warmer period between glacial periods within the Pleistocene.
Synonyms
- Ice Age (n): A common, though less precise, synonym referring to the Pleistocene's dominant climatic feature. Note: Scientifically, the Pleistocene contained multiple glacial ("ice age") and interglacial periods.
- The Great Ice Age
Related Terms (Contextual)
- Holocene epoch (n): The current geological epoch following the Pleistocene.
- Quaternary period (n): The geological period comprising the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs.
- Paleolithic (adj): The archaeological period coinciding with the Pleistocene, characterized by stone tool use.
Noun
- from two million to 11 thousand years ago; extensive glaciation of the northern hemisphere; the time of human evolution