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It continues up to the present time and is the period that we live in. The Quaternary Period is divided into two epochs :

  • The Pleistocene Epoch - 1.8 million to 11,000 years ago
  • The Holocene Epoch - 11,000 years ago to present

Each epoch has unique characteristics for climate and geography, so the plants and animals that lived during those times are unique to each epoch, too.

The Geologic Time Naming System

In the early 1800's a system for naming geologic time periods was devised using four periods of geologic time. They were named using Latin root words. In Latin, quatr means four. Early geologists chose the name Quaternary for the fourth period in this system. We no longer use this system of dividing geologic time, but the name, Quaternary, is still commonly used for the most recent period in geologic time.

The system for naming the periods is constantly changing. As more information is collected, analyzed, and debated, the divisions created for looking at geologic time changes. The Quaternary Period is no longer an official geologic time period. This time is now considered part of the larger Neogene Period.

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14y ago

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