An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c14.s8.t4.2

v1.c14.s8.t4.2

Holocene, semantically speaking, means ‘modern’ in the sense that it is contemporary. Geological ages and their subdivisions are based on the emergence of new forms of life. Thus judged the Holocene does not show sufficient indication to be classified as a new period. Even otherwise it is not certain that the Ice Age is over. The present, geologically speaking, may be only an Interglacial phase [cf. 9.7.3]. Even if the Pleistocene Age is over the present times may be only a part of the line separating the two periods—a peirod of overlap.