The stratigraphic basis of the Anthropocene Event

Matthew Edgeworth; Philip Gibbard; Michael Walker; Dorothy Merritts; Stanley Finney; Mark Maslin

doi:10.1016/j.qsa.2023.100088

The stratigraphic basis of the Anthropocene Event

Matthew Edgeworth^*, Philip Gibbard, Michael Walker, Dorothy Merritts, Stanley Finney, Mark Maslin

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper outlines the stratigraphic basis of a proposed Anthropocene Event. It considers a diachronous event framework to be more appropriate for understanding the Anthropocene than treating it as a new geological series/epoch. Four general categories of material evidence are identified as of particular relevance: ‘artificial’ strata with natural constituents; humanly modified ground; legacy sediments; and ‘natural’ geo-deposits containing artefactual material. All these arise from the interaction and mixing of human, natural, and hybrid human-natural forces. Taken together, such stratigraphic evidence supports the case for recognising the Anthropocene as an unfolding event.

Original language	English
Article number	100088
Number of pages	11
Journal	Quaternary Science Advances
Volume	11
Early online date	19 May 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2023.100088
Publication status	Published - 01 Jul 2023

Keywords

Anthropocene
Diachroneity
Event
Humanly-modified ground
Legacy sediment

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title = "The stratigraphic basis of the Anthropocene Event",

abstract = "This paper outlines the stratigraphic basis of a proposed Anthropocene Event. It considers a diachronous event framework to be more appropriate for understanding the Anthropocene than treating it as a new geological series/epoch. Four general categories of material evidence are identified as of particular relevance: {\textquoteleft}artificial{\textquoteright} strata with natural constituents; humanly modified ground; legacy sediments; and {\textquoteleft}natural{\textquoteright} geo-deposits containing artefactual material. All these arise from the interaction and mixing of human, natural, and hybrid human-natural forces. Taken together, such stratigraphic evidence supports the case for recognising the Anthropocene as an unfolding event.",

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author = "Matthew Edgeworth and Philip Gibbard and Michael Walker and Dorothy Merritts and Stanley Finney and Mark Maslin",

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AU - Gibbard, Philip

AU - Walker, Michael

AU - Merritts, Dorothy

AU - Finney, Stanley

AU - Maslin, Mark

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank Craig Cessford, Matt Brudenell, Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Hendrik Bruins, Alex Peloggia and Peter Davies for help in providing illustrations, and Philip Stickler for his drawing skills. Useful comments came from anonymous peer review. Two authors are members of the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG), and are grateful for the stimulating debate by AWG members. We also thank colleagues who have worked on recent formulations of the Anthropocene Event. It is partly from this ongoing work that this paper springs. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

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AB - This paper outlines the stratigraphic basis of a proposed Anthropocene Event. It considers a diachronous event framework to be more appropriate for understanding the Anthropocene than treating it as a new geological series/epoch. Four general categories of material evidence are identified as of particular relevance: ‘artificial’ strata with natural constituents; humanly modified ground; legacy sediments; and ‘natural’ geo-deposits containing artefactual material. All these arise from the interaction and mixing of human, natural, and hybrid human-natural forces. Taken together, such stratigraphic evidence supports the case for recognising the Anthropocene as an unfolding event.

KW - Anthropocene

KW - Diachroneity

KW - Event

KW - Humanly-modified ground

KW - Legacy sediment

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The stratigraphic basis of the Anthropocene Event

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Keywords

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