Quaternary Period 2.6 mya to today

Summary

The Quaternary is a very short period, and would probably not be considered worthy of being recognized as a geological period if it were not for the fact that we live in it. The name means "fourth" and was invented at a time when only three earlier periods were believed to exist.

It is characterized by a series of glaciations which together form an ice age, which still exists. Humans evolved during this period.