Crawford Lake in Ontario, one of the candidate sites to mark the dawn of the Anthropocene
Shutterstock / SF photo
In an ongoing effort, geologists are working to establish the Anthropocene as a distinct geological epoch, capturing the global impact of humans on the planet. This year, a decision will be made on the best site to officially mark the beginning of this new epoch.
For the past 11,650 years, the Earth has been in the Holocene, a period viewed as environmentally stable and favorable for the development of civilization. However, the Anthropocene signifies a shift due to human activities.
Article amended on 27 January 2022
We clarified Erle Ellis’s university affiliation
Article amended on 2 February 2022
We updated the picture of Lake Crawford
