Chibanian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chibanian |
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| 0.774 – 0.129 Ma | |
| Chronology | |
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Quaternary graphical timeline
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Subdivision of the Quaternary according to the ICS, as of 2021.
Vertical axis scale: millions of years ago. |
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| Etymology | |
| Name formality | Formal |
| Name ratified | January 2020 |
| Synonym(s) | Middle Pleistocene Ionian |
| Usage information | |
| Celestial body | Earth |
| Regional usage | Global (ICS) |
| Time scale(s) used | ICS Time Scale |
| Definition | |
| Chronological unit | Age |
| Stratigraphic unit | Stage |
| Time span formality | Formal |
| Lower boundary definition | 1.1 m below the directional midpoint of the Brunhes-Matuyama magnetic reversal |
| Lower boundary GSSP | Chiba, Japan 35°17′39″N 140°08′47″E / 35.2943°N 140.1465°E |
| Lower GSSP ratified | January 2020 |
| Upper boundary definition | Not formally defined |
| Upper boundary definition candidates | Marine Isotope Substage 5e |
| Upper boundary GSSP candidate section(s) | None |
The Chibanian is a period of time in Earth's history. It's part of the larger Pleistocene Epoch, which itself is part of the Quaternary Period. This time period is also widely known as the Middle Pleistocene.
The Chibanian name was officially approved in January 2020. It began about 770,000 years ago and ended around 126,000 years ago. During this age, important changes happened for early humans. They moved from the Lower Paleolithic to the Middle Paleolithic period.
The Chibanian follows the Calabrian age. It is followed by the proposed Tarantian age. The start of the Chibanian is marked by the Brunhes–Matuyama reversal. This is when Earth's magnetic field last completely flipped. The age ends when the Eemian interglacial period began. This was a warmer time between ice ages.
Contents
Defining the Chibanian Age
Scientists use a special system to divide Earth's history into different ages. This system is called the geologic timescale. The Chibanian is a formal "age" within this scale.
How the Chibanian Got Its Name
The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is a group of scientists. They decide on the names for these time periods. They first thought about naming this age the "Ionian Age." This name would have come from rock layers found in Italy.
However, in 2017, they chose a different name: the Chibanian. This name comes from a site in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The rock layers there provide a clear marker for the start of this age. The name "Chibanian" was officially approved in January 2020.
Early Humans During the Chibanian
The Chibanian age was a very important time for human history. It saw the shift from the Lower Paleolithic to the Middle Paleolithic period. This means that early humans started to make more advanced tools. They also began to show more complex behaviors.
The Rise of Homo sapiens
During the Chibanian, our own species, Homo sapiens, first appeared. This happened between 300,000 and 400,000 years ago. The oldest known human DNA found so far dates back to this time. It is about 430,000 years old. This DNA was found in the Middle Pleistocene layers.
Images for kids
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A friendly robot.
See also
