Epochengrenze

Epochengrenze is a term used to describe the boundary between two epochs, in both geological timescales and in historiography. It denotes the division where a new epoch begins and serves as a reference point for scholars studying long-term change.

In geochronology, the boundary is usually defined by stratigraphic markers at a Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP). When ratified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, such boundaries provide a worldwide standard for dating rocks and correlating stratigraphic records. Examples include the start of the Holocene, at about 11,700 years ago, marking the end of the last Ice Age, and the establishment of the base of the Pleistocene at about 2.58 million years ago.

In historical and cultural contexts, epochengrenze describe watershed moments that shift culture, technology, or political life. These boundaries are discussed conceptually rather than governed by a single authority, and their definitions are often debated among scholars. Common discussions involve transitions such as the shift from the Middle Ages to the early modern period, the Renaissance as a cultural turning point, or the emergence of a digital or information age as a potential new epoch.

A notable contemporary topic is the proposed Anthropocene epoch, intended to reflect significant human impact on the Earth system. While the term is widely used in scientific and popular discourse, a formal ratification and a precise GSSP are not yet universally accepted within the formal geologic timescale framework.