The Quaternary is here to stay

The proposals to drop the name Quaternary, to extend the Neogene Period to the present day, and to confirm the base of the Pleistocene at 1.8 Ma are reviewed. it is concluded that there is no scientific case for dropping the name Quaternary and that an overwhelming volume of evidence points to 2.6Ma as the most appropriate base for the Quaternary/Pleistocene, when extensive Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude glaciation occurred under what were essentially similar physical boundary conditions of continents, oceans, seaways and mountain ranges that characterise, and are unique to, the Quaternary. It is desirable that all stratigraphical and geochronological evidence is tied rigorously into the Global Stratigraphic Timescale. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.