kvaternaarisissa

Kvaternaarisissa refers to the Quaternary period, the current and most recent of the three periods in the Cenozoic Era. It began 2.58 million years ago and is divided into two epochs: the Pleistocene and the Holocene. The Quaternary is characterized by repeated cycles of glaciations and interglacial periods, significantly shaping the Earth's landscapes and influencing the evolution and distribution of life, including the emergence of *Homo sapiens*.

During the Pleistocene, often called the "Ice Age," vast ice sheets covered significant portions of the Earth's landmasses. This period saw the rise and fall of numerous megafauna species, many of which later became extinct. The Holocene epoch, beginning approximately 11,700 years ago, is the warmer period we currently inhabit. This warmer climate facilitated the development of human civilization, agriculture, and widespread settlement. The study of the Quaternary is crucial for understanding climate change, geological processes, and the history of life on Earth.