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The Holocene The Holocene is our current epoch. Some researchers argue that it is merely an extention of the Pleistocene, though most recognize it as a seperate geologic entity. To get an idea of Holocene environments and habitation simply take a look around you. The Holocene started with the glacial retreat approximately 11,000 years before the present resulting in the current interglacial period. Temperatures are warmer now that the were at the end of the Pleistocene, making northern areas more hospitable. This epoch is marked by the spread of civilization, the creation of city-states, written language and all things associated with complex culture. By the start of the Holocene humans had migrated to all the areas in which they currently reside. Excavations of sites around the world have shed light on what life was like at the start of epoch. It was around the start of the epoch that the domestication of plants and animals occured, allowing for a more settled lifestyle.
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