Middle Pleistocene

Middle Pleistocene

Subdivisions of the Quaternary System

The Middle Pleistocene is a subdivision of the Pleistocene Epoch, from 781,000 to 126,000 years ago (781–126 ka). It is preceded by the Calabrian stage, beginning with the Brunhes–Matuyama reversal, and succeeded by the Tarantian stage (equivalent to the Late or Upper Pleistocene), taken as beginning with the last interglacial (MIS 5).

The tripartite subdivision of the Pleistocene into Lower (Early), Middle and Upper (Late) has been in use since the 1930s. It is in use as a provisional or "quasi-formal" designation by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) as of 2018, pending the ratification of the 2017 proposal by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, ICSSQS) of the Chibanian stage.

The Middle Pleistocene contains the transition from the Lower to Middle Paleolithic in palaeoanthropology, i.e. the emergence of Homo sapiens at 300,000 years ago. The oldest known human DNA dates to the Middle Pleistocene. == Definition process==

Around 2000, the ICS Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy had intended to formally divide the Pleistocene Epoch into three subepochs/subseries: the Early/Lower Pleistocene, the Middle Pleistocene and the Late/Upper Pleistocene. In 2009, however, the ICS's governing body (the IUGS), overruled this approach, preferring instead to divide the Pleistocene Epoch into four ages/stages. Some GSSP candidate sites were selected and informal names based on these locations were proposed. This resulted in the 2009 proposal that the Middle Pleistocene subepoch/subseries should be replaced by the Ionian age/stage, the start/base of which would be defined at a location in Italy.

Ionian
The Ionian stage includes all of the European Sicilian Stage and the first part of the Tyrrhenian Stage. Suitable sections for defining the base of the Ionian Stage are located in southern Italy. During Lower and Middle Pleistocene the Adriatic-Ionian margin was characterized by high sedimentation rates, in response to intense differential tectonic subsidence and massive sedimentary yield. Specifically, candidate sections are the “Montalbano Jonico” Section (Bradanic Trough, Basilicata Region) and the “Valle di Manche Nord” Section (San Mauro Marchesato, Crotone Basin, Calabria Region). In the former, a spectacular succession of marls laid in the Apennine foredeep is exposed which, however, are unfortunately unsuitable for magnetostratigraphic analyses. The latter, which is represented by a shallowing-upward succession that developed in an outer-shelf environment, has the bonus of a sharp biomagnetostratigraphic record, which provides tighter age control.

Besides these exposures, a number of Ocean Drilling Program cores drilled either in the Ionian Sea (Site 964) and in the Sicily Channel-Capo Rossello area (Site 963) are available, which correlate well with the on-land sections mentioned above based on a significant number of criteria (magnetostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, sapropel stratigraphy, stable isotopes and tephrochronology). The interval corresponding to the Ionian Stage is especially well represented in Site 963, where no turbidites and/or hiatuses are recognized. Presently, the Montalbano Ionico section is possibly the main candidate for defining the Lower - Middle Pleistocene boundary, when a reliable magnetostratigraphic record is found.

Chibanian
In November 2017, the Chibanian (defined at a site in Chiba Prefecture, Japan) replaced the Ionian as the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy's preferred GSSP proposal for the age/stage that should replace the Middle Pleistocene subepoch/subseries.[8] Until the Chibanian is ratified by the IUGS, the Chibanian will remain an unofficial informal, proposed stratigraphic division and Middle Pleistocene remains the provisional or quasi-formal name used by the IUGS, for example on its International Chronostratigraphic Chart for 2018.

Chronology
Further information: Marine isotope stage and Last glacial period Further information: Brunhes–Matuyama reversal Age    paleoclimate    glaciation    palaeoanthropology 790–761 ka    MIS 19    Günz (Elbe) glaciation    Peking Man (Homo erectus) 761–712 ka    MIS 18 712–676 ka    MIS 17 676–621 ka    MIS 16 621–563 ka    MIS 15    Gunz-Haslach interglacial    Heidelberg Man (Homo heidelbergensis ), Bodo cranium 563–524 ka    MIS 14 524–474 ka    MIS 13    end of Cromerian (Günz-Mindel) interglacial    Boxgrove Man (Homo heidelbergensis) 474–424 ka    MIS 12    Anglian Stage in Britain; Haslach glaciation    Tautavel Man (Homo erectus) 424–374 ka    MIS 11    Hoxnian (Britain), Yarmouthian (North America)    Swanscombe Man (Homo heidelbergensis) 374–337 ka    MIS 10    Mindel glaciation, Elster glaciation, Riss glaciation 337–300 ka    MIS 9    Purfleet Interglacial in Britain    Mousterian 300–243 ka    MIS 8        Irhoud 1 (Homo sapiens); Middle Paleolithic; Haplogroup A (Y-DNA) 243–191 ka    MIS 7    Aveley Interglacial in Britain    Galilee Man (Homo sapiens ); Haua Fteah 191–130 ka    MIS 6    Illinoian Stage    Herto Man (Homo sapiens); Macro-haplogroup L (mtDNA); Mousterian 130–123 ka    MIS 5e    peak of Eemian interglacial sub-stage, or Ipswichian in Britain     Klasies River Caves; Sangoan Humans DNA from humans has been found dating to 430,000 years ago. This is the oldest found, as of 2016.

EARTH The Guardian continues with his interference of natural development and sterilizes all non Homo Sapiens sentients The Next visit Earth The Blue The Blue reach Andromeda The Kermac develop their first will benders Xunx The first Generation of "Space Xunx" use the technology gained from the seeders. These are Green Xunx. They conquer and kill the previous Red Xunbx inrecord time.