Short description: Second unofficial division of the Pleistocene Epoch
The Middle Pleistocene is an unofficial sub-epoch in the international geologic timescale in chronostratigraphy. It is intended to be the second division of the Pleistocene Epoch within the ongoing Quaternary Period. It is currently estimated to span the time between 0.773 Ma (760,000 years ago) and 0.126 Ma (126,000 years ago), also expressed as 773–126 ka. It includes the transition in palaeoanthropology from the Lower to the Middle Palaeolithic over 300 ka.
The Middle Pleistocene equates to the Chibanian Age of the geologic time scale (GTS), preceded by the official Calabrian and succeeded by the proposed Tarantian.[1] The beginning of the Chibanian is the Brunhes–Matuyama reversal, when the Earth's magnetic field last underwent reversal.[2] It ends with the onset of the Eemian interglacial period (Marine Isotope Stage 5).[3]
The term Middle Pleistocene is currently in use as a provisional or "quasi-formal" designation by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). The International Chronostratigraphic Chart labels the last two Pleistocene divisions as Middle and Upper, spanning 773–126 ka and 126–11.7 ka, respectively.[1] While the two lowest ages of the Pleistocene, the Gelasian and the Calabrian have been officially defined to effectively constitute the Early Pleistocene sub-epoch, the Middle Pleistocene and Late Pleistocene have yet to be formally defined, along with consideration of a proposed Anthropocene sub-division of the Holocene.[4]
Contents
1Definition process
2Palaeoanthropology
3Chronology
4See also
5References
Definition process
The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) had previously proposed replacement of the Middle Pleistocene by an Ionian Age based on strata found in Italy. In November 2017, however, the Chibanian (based on strata at a site in Chiba Prefecture, Japan) replaced the Ionian as the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy's preferred GSSP proposal for the age that should replace the Middle Pleistocene sub-epoch.[5] The "Chibanian" name was ratified by the IUGS in January 2020.[6]
Palaeoanthropology
The Middle Pleistocene includes the transition in palaeoanthropology from the Lower to the Middle Palaeolithic: i.e., the emergence of Homo sapiens sapiens between 300 ka and 400 ka.[7] The oldest known human DNA dates to the Middle Pleistocene, around 430,000 years ago. This is the oldest found, (As of 2016).[8]
Chronology
Further information: Timeline of glaciation
Further information: Marine isotope stage and Last glacial period
Further information: Brunhes–Matuyama reversal
Age
paleoclimate
glaciation
palaeoanthropology
790–761 ka
MIS 19
Günz (Elbe) glaciation
Peking Man (Homo erectus)
761–712 ka
MIS 18
712–676 ka
MIS 17
676–621 ka
MIS 16
621–563 ka
MIS 15
Gunz-Haslach interglacial
Heidelberg Man (Homo heidelbergensis), Bodo cranium
Irhoud 1 (Homo sapiens); Middle Paleolithic; Haplogroup A (Y-DNA)
243–191 ka
MIS 7
Aveley Interglacial in Britain
Galilee Man (Homo sapiens); Haua Fteah
191–130 ka
MIS 6
Illinoian Stage
Herto Man (Homo sapiens); Macro-haplogroup L (mtDNA); Mousterian
130–123 ka
MIS 5e
peak of Eemian interglacial sub-stage, or Ipswichian in Britain
Klasies River Caves; Sangoan
See also
Mid-Pleistocene Transition
100,000-year problem
Pleistocene megafauna
References
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↑Gradstein, Felix M.; Ogg, James G.; Smith, Alan G., eds (2004). A Geological Time Scale 2004 (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 28. ISBN 9780521786737.
↑P. L. Gibbard (17 April 2015). "The Quaternary System/Period and its major sub-divisions". ScienceDirect. Elsevier BV. pp. 686–688. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1068797115000747. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
↑"Japan-based name 'Chibanian' set to represent geologic age of last magnetic shift". The Japan Times. 14 November 2017. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/14/national/science-health/japan-based-name-chibanian-set-represent-geologic-age-last-magnetic-shift. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
↑"「チバニアン」 国際学会が命名決定 日本の地層で初登録". NHK. 17 January 2020. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200117/k10012249251000.html. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
↑D. Richter & others (8 June 2017). "The Age of Hominin Fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, and the origins of the Middle Stone Age". Nature546 (7657): 293–296. doi:10.1038/nature22335. PMID 28593967..
↑Crew, Bec (15 March 2016). "The Oldest Human Genome Ever Has Been Sequenced, And It Could Rewrite Our History". ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/the-oldest-human-genome-ever-has-been-sequenced-and-it-could-rewrite-human-history. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
v
t
e
Quaternary Period
Pleistocene Epoch
Holocene Epoch
Early
Middle
Late
Meghalayan
Northgrippian
Greenlandian
Preboreal
Boreal
Atlantic
Subboreal
Subatlantic
v
t
e
Geological history of Earth
Cenozoic era (present–66.0 Mya)
Quaternary (present–2.588 Mya)
Holocene (present–11.784 kya)
Pleistocene (11.784 kya–2.588 Mya)
Neogene (2.588–23.03 Mya)
Pliocene (2.588–5.333 Mya)
Miocene (5.333–23.03 Mya)
Paleogene (23.03–66.0 Mya)
Oligocene (23.03–33.9 Mya)
Eocene (33.9–56.0 Mya)
Paleocene (56.0–66.0 Mya)
Mesozoic era (66.0–251.902 Mya)
Cretaceous (66.0–145.0 Mya)
Late (66.0–100.5 Mya)
Early (100.5–145.0 Mya)
Jurassic (145.0–201.3 Mya)
Late (145.0–163.5 Mya)
Middle (163.5–174.1 Mya)
Early (174.1–201.3 Mya)
Triassic (201.3–251.902 Mya)
Late (201.3–237 Mya)
Middle (237–247.2 Mya)
Early (247.2–251.902 Mya)
Paleozoic era (251.902–541.0 Mya)
Permian (251.902–298.9 Mya)
Lopingian (251.902–259.8 Mya)
Guadalupian (259.8–272.3 Mya)
Cisuralian (272.3–298.9 Mya)
Carboniferous (298.9–358.9 Mya)
Pennsylvanian (298.9–323.2 Mya)
Mississippian (323.2–358.9 Mya)
Devonian (358.9–419.2 Mya)
Late (358.9–382.7 Mya)
Middle (382.7–393.3 Mya)
Early (393.3–419.2 Mya)
Silurian (419.2–443.8 Mya)
Pridoli (419.2–423.0 Mya)
Ludlow (423.0–427.4 Mya)
Wenlock (427.4–433.4 Mya)
Llandovery (433.4–443.8 Mya)
Ordovician (443.8–485.4 Mya)
Late (443.8–458.4 Mya)
Middle (458.4–470.0 Mya)
Early (470.0–485.4 Mya)
Cambrian (485.4–541.0 Mya)
Furongian (485.4–497 Mya)
Miaolingian (497–509 Mya)
Series 2 (509–521 Mya)
Terreneuvian (521–541.0 Mya)
Proterozoic eon (541.0 Mya–2.5 Gya)
Neoproterozoic (541.0 Mya–1 Gya)
Ediacaran (541.0–~635 Mya)
Cryogenian (~635–~720 Mya)
Tonian (~720 Mya–1 Gya)
Mesoproterozoic (1–1.6 Gya)
Stenian (1–1.2 Gya)
Ectasian (1.2–1.4 Gya)
Calymmian (1.4–1.6 Gya)
Paleoproterozoic (1.6–2.5 Gya)
Statherian (1.6–1.8 Gya)
Orosirian (1.8–2.05 Gya)
Rhyacian (2.05–2.3 Gya)
Siderian (2.3–2.5 Gya)
Archean eon (2.5–4 Gya)
Eras
Neoarchean (2.5–2.8 Gya)
Mesoarchean (2.8–3.2 Gya)
Paleoarchean (3.2–3.6 Gya)
Eoarchean (3.6–4 Gya)
Hadean eon (4–4.6 Gya)
kya = thousands years ago. Mya = millions years ago. Gya = billions years ago.
See also: Geologic time scale