What is the Holocene calendar?
Q: What is the Holocene calendar?
A: The Holocene calendar, or Human era (HE), is a year numbering system that adds 10,000 years to the present Anno Domini (AD) or Common Era (CE) system. It puts the first year near the beginning of the Holocene epoch and the Neolithic revolution.
Q: What are some benefits of using this new calendar system?
A: People who like the HE system say that it makes for easier geological, archeological, dendrochronological and historical dating. For example, the year 2022 can be made into a Holocene year by adding the number "1" before it, making it 12022 HE.
Q: Who came up with this idea?
A: The scientist Cesare Emiliani thought of this idea in 1993 (11993 HE).
Q: Why do people want to use a new calendar system?
A: In the Anno Domini system, Jesus' birth represents year 1 which many now think was four years earlier than originally thought. Additionally, BC years are counted down when moving from past to future which makes calculating lengths of time difficult. There is also no year zero in AD so it's important not to forget this when calculating lengths of time.
Q: When does HE start counting from?
A: HE starts at 10001 BC which is a rough approximation of when humans started settling down and creating cities and agriculture during what we know as today as the Holocene or Recent period.
Q: How does one convert their current date into a Holocene date?
A: To convert your current date into a Holocene date you need to add "1" before it - for example 2022 would become 12022 HE.
