[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene

## Details

**Authors** Colin N. Waters, Jan Zalasiewicz, Colin Summerhayes, Anthony D. Barnosky, Clément Poirier, Agnieszka Gałuszka, Alejandro Cearreta, Matt Edgeworth, Erle C. Ellis, Michael Ellis, Catherine Jeandel, Reinhold Leinfelder, J. R. McNeill, Daniel deB. Richter, Will Steffen, James Syvitski, Davor Vidas, Mich

**Year** 2016

**Publisher** Science

**Kind of work** article

**Discipline** Geology

**Secondary disciplines** Climatology, Environment & Sustainability

**Applied** false

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad2622) 
10.1126/science.aad2622

## In authors' words

### Abstract

Human activity is leaving a pervasive and persistent signature on Earth. Vigorous debate continues about whether this warrants recognition as a new geologic time unit known as the Anthropocene. We review anthropogenic markers of functional changes in the Earth system through the stratigraphic record. The appearance of manufactured materials in sediments, including aluminum, plastics, and concrete, coincides with global spikes in fallout radionuclides and particulates from fossil fuel combustion. Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles have been substantially modified over the past century. Rates of sea-level rise and the extent of human perturbation of the climate system exceed Late Holocene changes. Biotic changes include species invasions worldwide and accelerating rates of extinction. These combined signals render the Anthropocene stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene and earlier epochs.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

To determine whether human-driven changes to Earth's sediments, climate, and biota since the mid-twentieth century are stratigraphically distinct enough to justify formally naming a new geological epoch.

### Who or what was studied (sample)

A global compilation of sediment cores, ice cores, and geochemical and radionuclide records synthesized across many sites worldwide.

### How they did it (methods)

Comparative review of independent proxy records (radionuclide fallout, fly ash and black carbon, novel manufactured materials, nitrogen and phosphorus loading, greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level, and extinction rates) against baseline variability across the Holocene and earlier epochs.

### What they found (results)

Multiple independent geological and geochemical proxies converge on a near-synchronous global signal centered in the mid-twentieth century, which the authors conclude renders the Anthropocene stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene.

## Commentary

### In short

The finding turns on a Distinction: whether a categorical boundary separating one geological epoch from another is supported by a convergent set of independent markers.

**Patterns it shows** D

**Added** 2026-09-26

**How to cite this** Colin N. Waters, Jan Zalasiewicz, Colin Summerhayes, Anthony D. Barnosky, Clément Poirier, Agnieszka Gałuszka, Alejandro Cearreta, Matt Edgeworth, Erle C. Ellis, Michael Ellis, Catherine Jeandel, Reinhold Leinfelder, J. R. McNeill, Daniel deB. Richter, Will Steffen, James Syvitski, Davor Vidas, Mich (2016). The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene. Science.