For 10 points, name this first epoch of the quaternary period which immediately precedes the Holocene, which occurred between 2.5 million and l1 thousand years ago and saw the early evolution of humans.
The Cromer forest bed was formed during this period. The Bouri formation in Ethiopia and the Kibish formation are important sources of fossils from this period, the latter of which contained the Omo remains. During this period, North America was home to Miracinonyx trumani. This period is divided into the Gelasian, Calabrian, Ionian, and Tarantian stages. Paul S. Martin developed this era's namesake (*) "overkill" hypothesis, which explained the extinction of its namesake megafauna. The Laurentide ice sheet reached its fullest extent during this period. Among the species that arose during this period are H. heidelbergensis and Neanderthals. For 10 points, name this first epoch of the quaternary period which immediately precedes the Holocene, which occurred between 2.5 million and l1 thousand years ago and saw the early evolution of humans.
The Cromer forest bed was formed during this period. The Bouri formation in Ethiopia and the Kibish formation are important sources of fossils from this period, the latter of which contained the Omo remains.
Pleistocene