Wolstonian Stage facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wolstonian
.374 – .130 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Usage information
Celestial body	Earth
Regional usage	Regional
Used by	United Kingdom
Definition
Chronological unit	Age
Stratigraphic unit	Stage

The Wolstonian Stage was a long period of Earth's history, lasting from about 374,000 to 130,000 years ago. It was a time when much of the world, especially the British Isles, experienced very cold ice ages. This stage is part of the Pleistocene epoch, which is often called the "Ice Age" period.

The Wolstonian Stage happened after the Hoxnian Stage and before the Eemian Stage in Europe. It's similar to other ice ages that happened around the same time in different parts of the world, like the Saalian Stage in northern Europe and the Illinoian Stage in North America.

What Was the Wolstonian Ice Age?

The Wolstonian Stage was a significant part of the geological history of Earth. During this time, the climate changed a lot, leading to several periods of very cold weather and the growth of huge ice sheets. Scientists believe there were at least three major ice ages within the Wolstonian Stage.

This period is known for being very cold, with ice covering large parts of the land. However, it also had warmer times, called interglacials, when the ice melted back. These warm and cold cycles are measured using something called Marine isotope stages (MIS). The Wolstonian Stage includes MIS 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6. The odd numbers (9 and 7) were warmer interglacial periods, while the even numbers (10, 8, and 6) were colder glacial periods.

A really cool thing happened during this time: about 350,000 years ago, Great Britain became an island! Before that, it was connected to mainland Europe.

Where Did the Name Come From?

The name Wolstonian Stage comes from a place called Wolston in Warwickshire, England. This is where scientists first found special layers of rock and soil that helped them understand this period of Earth's history.

Life During the Wolstonian Stage

Even during these cold times, life continued. Archaeologists have found Acheulian flint tools in deposits from the Wolstonian Stage. This means that early humans were living in these areas and making tools from stone during this period. These tools give us clues about how people survived and adapted to the changing climate.

Ice Ages Around the World

The Wolstonian Stage was just one part of a bigger story of ice ages that affected the entire planet during the Pleistocene epoch. Scientists have given different names to these ice ages depending on where they happened. This helps them study and compare how the climate changed in different regions.

Here's a look at some of the major ice ages and warmer periods in different parts of the world:

Major Glacial Periods

These were the main times when ice sheets grew very large:

Warmer Interglacial Periods

These were the warmer times between the main ice ages when the ice melted back:

See also

• Glacial period
• Ice age
• Timeline of glaciation