What is the Pleistocene stage?
Q: What is the Pleistocene stage?
A: The Pleistocene stage or epoch was a long period of time that stretched from 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago. It followed the Pliocene and is the first epoch of the Quaternary period and sixth in the Cainozoic.
Q: What are ice ages?
A: Ice ages are when the world becomes much colder for a long time. During these glaciations, much of the world we know was covered by ice.
Q: How many "major" ice ages were there in much of the 20th century?
A: In much of the 20th century geologists counted four "major" iceages, although nowadays several more are called "major".
Q: What animals lived during this time?
A: Many animals that lived during this time have become extinct due to climate change and hunting by humans. Some examples include Glyptodon which was something like a giant armadillo, as well as mammoths which were a species of elephant adapted to cold weather with their long hair.
Q: Who were Neanderthals?
A: Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) were an ancient human species who lived in Europe and Asia until about 30,000 years ago. They did not descend from modern man but originated from another branch of genus Homo in Africa instead.
Q: When did modern man originate?
A: Modern man originated in Africa from another branch of genus Homo around 30,000 years ago.
