Quaternary science
Quaternary science is the subfield of geology which studies the Quaternary Period commonly known as the ice age. The Quaternary Period is a time period that started around 2.58 million years ago and continues today. This period is divided into two epochs – the Pleistocene Epoch and the Holocene Epoch. The aim of Quaternary science is to understand everything that happened during the Pleistocene Epoch and the Holocene Epoch to be able to acquire fundamental knowledge about Earth's environment, ecosystem, climate changes, etc. Quaternary science was first studied during the nineteenth century by Georges Cuvier, a French scientist. Most Quaternary scientists have studied the history of the Quaternary to predict future changes in climate.
| English name | Quaternary science |
|---|---|
| Date | Pleistocene Epoch (2.58 million years ago to about 11,700 years ago) and Holocene Epoch (11,700 years ago, begin after Pleistocene Epoch) |
| Duration | 2.58 million years ago – present day |
| Also known as | The study of Quaternary Period (ice age) |
| Motive | To understand the history of the Earth during the last 2.58 million years |
| Outcome | Ability to predict the upcoming or future changes in climate |
| Quaternary science was first studied in the nineteenth century by a French scientist – Georges Cuvier. | |
Quaternary science plays a vital role in archaeology providing a possible accurate human studies' framework which would help the archaeologists interpret archaeological records.