3 - 2.4
2.4 - 1.8
1.8 - 1.2
1.2 - 600
600 - 0
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
3 - 0
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Quarternary Period quarternary period
1.8 - Present
Pliocene Epoch 5 - 1.8 pliocene
Pleistocene Epoch 1.8 million - 10 K pleistocene
- 2.6 - 2 South Pole


- 3 116 Great years ago. Solar System revolutions around Sirius crossing Galactic Plane.

Pliocene Epoch 5 - 1.8
Geologic - "Great Ice Age." Ice sheets & other glaciers encroach & retreat during four or five primary glacial periods. At its peak, as much as 30% of Earth's surface is covered by glaciers, & parts of northern oceans are frozen. movement of glaciers alters landscape. Lakes, such as Great Lakes in North America, are formed as ice sheets melt, & retreat. Global warming begins after last glacial maximum, 18,000 years ago.
- 4 - 2 Australopithecus afarensis, Hominid species in Ethiopia
- 3 Bipedal australopithecines (early hominides) evolve in savannas of Africa being hunted by Dinofelis.

 

Pliocene Epoch 5 - 1.8
Life Forms - oldest species of Homo, Homo habilis evolves. flora & fauna in regions not covered by ice are essentially same as those of earlier Pliocene Epoch. Mammalian evolution includes development of large forms: woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, musk ox, moose, reindeer, elephant, mastodon, bison, & ground sloth.
In Americas, large mammals, such as horses, camels, mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, & ground sloths, are entirely extinct by end of this epoch.

- 2 Homo habilis, thought to be ancestor of lankier & more sophisticated, Homo ergaster, which in turn gave rise to more human appearing species, Homo erectus.

- 1.9 - 1.2 South Pole


Pliocene Epoch 5 - 1.8
Geologic - The emergence of Isthmus of Panama changes ocean circulation patterns & coincides with formation of an Arctic ice cap. Plate tectonic interactions result in uplift of Sierra Nevada, formation of Cascade Range, & onset of strike-slip faulting on San Andreas Fault. In Europe, Alps continue to rise.
global climates become cooler & drier.

- 1.8 Homo erectus evolves in Africa. Striking resemblance to modern humans, but had a brain about 74 percent of size of modern man.
- Nutcracker Man discovered in Tanzania by Mary Leakey
- Homo habilis or tool-making man
- 1.75 Dmanisi man, Homo georgicus (Georgia, Russia), tiny brain came from Africa, with Homo erectus & Homo habilis characteristics. Common genetic ancestor of humans & Neanderthal.
- 1.1 - 900 K South Pole

 

Pliocene Epoch 5 - 1.8
Life forms - Camels & horses are abundant throughout North America. Ground sloths also evolve & Great American interchange between South & North America begins.
Primates continue to evolve, & australopithecines, antecedents to Homo sapiens,develop late in Pliocene in Africa.
In North America, rhinoceroses & ordeodonts become extinct.

- 1 Homo erectus begins to migrate to Europe & Asia

- 5 Sahelanthropus tchadensis Human ancestors speciate from ancestors of chimpanzees.



6 - 5.4
5.4 - 4.8
4.8 - 4.2
4.2 - 3.6
3.6 - 3
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
6 - 3
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
   
Pliocene Epoch 5 - 1.8 pliocene

- 6 332 Great Years ago.

- 5.9 - 5.2 South Pole


- 5 - 4.9 South Pole

- 4.8 - 4.7 South Pole
- 4.5 - 4.4 South Pole


- 4.4 Ardipithecus ramidus ramidus (Hominid, Walks upright most of time, Still spend time on trees)
- Earliest evidence of pre-human hominid species

- 4.3 - 3.6 South Pole


- 4 - 2 Australopithecus afarensis, Hominid species in Ethiopia
- 3.7 Some Australopithecus afarensis left footprints on volcanic ash in Laetoli, Kenya.

- 3.4 - 3.3 South Pole
- 3.2 - 3.1 South Pole


9 - 8.4
8.4 - 7.8
7.8 - 7.2
7.2 - 6.6
6.6 - 6
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
9 - 6
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

- 9 448 Great Years ago

- 8.7 - 8.3 South Pole


- 8.2 - 8.1 South Pole

- 7.7 - 7.6 South Pole
- 7.5 - 7.4 South Pole
- 7.3 - 7.2 South Pole

- 7.1 - 7 South Pole
- 6.9 - 6.6 South Pole

- 6.3 - 6.2 South Pole


12 - 11.4
11.4 - 10.8
10.8 - 10.2
10.2 - 9.6
9.6 - 9
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
12 - 9
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

- 12 463 Galactic Years ago.

- 12 - 11.7 South Pole
- 11.6 - 11.3 South Pole


- 11.2 - 11.1 South Pole

 
- 10.1 - 10 South Pole
- 9.9 - 9.8 South Pole
- 9.7 - 9.6 South Pole

- 9.5 - 9.3 South Pole
- 9.2 - 9 South Pole


15 - 14.4
14.4 - 13.8
13.8 - 13.2
13.2 - 12.6
12.6 - 12
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
15 - 12
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

- 15 579 Great Years ago

- 14.8 - 14.6 South Pole


- 14.2 - 14.1 South Pole

- 13.7 - 13.6 South Pole
- 13.4 - 13.3 South Pole

- 13.1 - 13 South Pole
- 12.9 - 12.8 South Pole
- 12.7 - 12.5 South Pole

- 12.3 - 12.2 South Pole


18 - 17.4
17.4 - 16.8
16.8 - 16.2
16.2 - 15.6
15.6 - 15
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
18 - 15
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

- 18 694 Great Years ago

 

 

 - 17.3 - 16.7 South Pole
 - 16.6 - 16.5 South Pole
- 16.4 - 16.3 South Pole
 - 16 - 15.2 South Pole

- 15.1 - 14.9 South Pole

21 - 20.4
20.4 - 19.8
19.8 - 19.2
19.2 - 18.6
18.6 - 18
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
21 - 18
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S

- 21 810 Great Years ago

- 20.6 - 20.2 South Pole


   
- 19 - 18.8 South Pole

- 18.3 - 17.6 South Pole


24 - 23.4
23.4 - 22.8
22.8 - 22.2
22.2 - 21.6
21.6 - 21
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
24 - 21
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N

- 24 926 Great Years ago

- 24 - 23.8 South Pole
- 23.7 - 23.6 South Pole
- 23.4 - 23.1 South Pole


- 22.9 - 22.8 South Pole

- 22.7 - 22.6 South Pole
- 22.5 - 22.3 South Pole

- 22.2 - 21.9 South Pole
- 21.8 - 21.4 South Pole

- 21.1 - 20.8 South Pole


27 - 26.4
26.4 - 25.8
25.8 - 25.2
25.2 - 24.6
24.6 - 24
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
27 - 24
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N

- 27 1,042 Great Years ago

- 27 - 26.5 South Pole


- 26 - 25.9 South Pole

- 25.8 - 25.7 South Pole
- 25.5 - 25.2 South Pole

- 24.9 - 24.8 South Pole

- 24.7 - 24.1 South Pole

 
30 - 29.4
29.4 - 28.8
28.8 - 28.2
28.2 - 27.6
27.6 - 27
Contract
21 - 18
18 - 15
30 Million
30 - 27
6 - 3
3 - 0
15 - 12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N

- 30 1,158 Great Years ago

- 29.7 - 29.6 South Pole


- 29.3 - 28.7 South Pole

- 28.5 - 28.4 South Pole

- 28.2 - 27.9 South Pole

North Pole
South Pole