Posttertiäre

Posttertiäre refers to a geological epoch that follows the Tertiary period. In the older geological timescale, the Tertiary and Quaternary periods were grouped together as the Neogene period. However, current geological classifications generally consider the Quaternary period to be distinct and following the Tertiary. Therefore, "posttertiäre" would encompass the Quaternary period and any subsequent, yet undefined, geological time. The Tertiary period itself is typically divided into the Paleogene and Neogene sub-periods. The posttertiäre, therefore, represents the most recent period of Earth's history following these divisions.

The most significant characteristic of the posttertiäre, as it is currently understood through the Quaternary period, is the dramatic climatic fluctuations, including the repeated glaciations and interglacial periods of the Pleistocene epoch. This period also witnessed the evolution and proliferation of *Homo sapiens*. The Holocene epoch, the current subdivision of the Quaternary, began approximately 11,700 years ago and is characterized by a generally warmer and more stable climate, though human activities have increasingly become a significant geological force. Understanding the posttertiäre is crucial for comprehending recent evolutionary and climatic history, as well as for predicting future environmental changes.