It began about 2.6 million years ago and continues to this day.

The Quaternary is further divided into two epochs:

* Pleistocene Epoch: 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, characterized by glacial cycles and the emergence of early humans.

* Holocene Epoch: 11,700 years ago to present, the period after the last glacial maximum, marked by warmer temperatures and the rise of human civilization.