Holocene

The Holocene Epoch is period in the geologic timescale that extends from about 10,000 radiocarbon years ago to the present. The beginning of the period is often converted to approximately 11,000 calendar years using an approximate radiocarbon calibration. 11,000 years before 1950 is -9050 (9051 BC).

The Holocene follows the Pleistocene Epoch and is the second and last epoch of the Quaternary period.

The Holocene was intended to start at the retreat of the Pleistocene glaciers, but is now considered to be set too late. Some would prefer a start of 11,000 radiocarbon years BP.

There are no faunal stages defined for the Holocene, as for the Pleistocene.

Continental motions are essentially negligible over a period of only 10,000 years. However, world sea levels rose about 35 meters (110 feet) in the early part of the Holocene due to ice melt. In addition, many areas above about 40 degrees latitude had been depressed significantly by the weight of the glaciers and rose as much as 180 meters over the late Pleistocene and Holocene. The seal level rise and land depression allowed temporary marine incursions into areas that are now far from the sea. Holocene marine fossils are known from Vermont, Quebec, Ontario and Michigan

Although geographic shifts in the Holocene were minor, climatic shifts were very large. The epoch started with large lakes in many areas that are now quite arid. Animal and plant life did not evolve much, but there were major shifts in the distributions. A number of large animal genera such as mammoths and mastodons, saber tooth cats, and giant sloth disappeared in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene -- especially in North America.