Last Interglacial

The Last Interglacial was the interglacial period that began about 130,000 years ago at the end of the Penultimate Glacial Period, and ended about 115,000 years ago at the beginning of the Last Glacial Period. It was one of the warmest periods of the last 800,000 years, with temperatures sometimes warmer than today. During this time, sea levels were up to 6 to 9 metres higher than they are now.

The Last Interglacial is known by different names in various regions. It is called the Eemian in northern Europe, the Ipswichian in Britain, the Mikulino in Russia, and the Valdivia interglacial in Chile. This period is important for understanding climate change because it was a time when Earth’s climate was similar to what it is today.

This period also matters for human history. It falls into the Middle Paleolithic and was when early modern humans lived in West Asia and Southern Africa. These humans were some of the earliest ancestors of people living today. Studying the Last Interglacial helps scientists understand how nature and humans might respond to climate changes in the future.

Definition

The Last Interglacial period was first studied from deep holes drilled in the ground near the city of Amersfoort in the Netherlands. A scientist named Pieter Harting discovered layers of soil and rocks from this ancient time in 1875 and named them after the river Eem. He noticed that the sea creatures found in these layers were different from those in the modern North Sea, with many species similar to those found farther south in places like Portugal and the Mediterranean.

Researchers have since used various methods, including studying tiny sea creatures and pollen, to learn more about this period. These studies help scientists understand how the Earth’s climate changed during the Last Interglacial.

Climate

The Last Interglacial was a warm period that happened about 130,000 to 115,000 years ago. During this time, Earth’s temperatures were higher than they are today, especially around 125,000 years ago. The Arctic was much warmer, with forests growing farther north than they do now. For example, trees like hazel and oak grew in places that are now tundra, such as northern Norway and Finland.

Scientists believe changes in Earth’s orbit, called Milankovitch cycles, caused these warmer temperatures. The climate was not always stable, with some cooler periods happening. By the end of this warm period, temperatures began to drop, and ice started to build up again, leading to a new glacial period.

Sea level

During the Last Interglacial, sea levels were about 6 to 9 meters higher than they are today. This rise was caused by melting ice from Greenland, mountain glaciers, and possibly Antarctica. Warmer ocean temperatures also played a role, but melting ice was needed to explain the full rise in sea level.

Because sea levels dropped after this period, we can see old coral reefs in places like the Caribbean and the Red Sea. In some areas, like along the coast of Spain, sea levels were similar to today’s. High sea levels caused parts of Fennoscandia to become islands, and large areas of northern Europe and the West Siberian Plain were covered by water.

Fauna

The warm climate during the Last Interglacial allowed many animals to move farther north than they do today. For example, hippopotamuses lived as far north as Stockton-on-Tees in England, and many large animals such as the straight-tusked elephant and Irish elk roamed Europe. Predators like lions and cave hyenas were also common.

In North America, large animals like mastodons and the giant beaver moved into areas that had previously been covered in ice. The warmer seas around Europe and Africa saw the arrival of species that today live much farther south. Meanwhile, colder-adapted animals like the woolly mammoth retreated to smaller areas.

Paleoanthropology

During the Last Interglacial period, Neanderthals lived in many parts of Europe. They had moved away during colder times but returned when the climate became warmer. However, they did not live in Britain because it was an island then. Neanderthals hunted large animals like straight-tusked elephants and also fished for food. Around the same time, early modern humans could be found in places like Arabia and as far east as the Persian Gulf.