Correct option is C
Correct Answer: (C) Pleistocene
Explanation:
→ The Homo sapiens species, or modern humans, emerged during the Pleistocene Epoch. This epoch is part of the Quaternary Period and began approximately 2.6 million years ago. Homo sapiens are believed to have evolved around 300,000 years ago, during the later stages of the Pleistocene.
Information Booster:
→ The Pleistocene Epoch was a time of dramatic climate change, characterized by ice ages and interglacial periods. It saw the emergence and eventual spread of Homo sapiens across various parts of the world.
→ During the Pleistocene, early humans developed crucial traits such as tool-making, use of fire, and social structures.
→ The Quaternary Period includes the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. The Holocene, which started around 11,700 years ago, represents the current geological epoch in which human civilization developed.
→ Early Homo sapiens coexisted with other human species, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, during the Pleistocene.
Additional Information (Other Options):
Option (A) – Oligocene occurred millions of years before the arrival of Homo sapiens and is associated with early mammalian evolution, but not human ancestors.
Option (B) – The Miocene was an important period for primate and early human evolution, but Homo sapiens did not appear until the Pleistocene.
Option (D) – The Palaeocene was too early for the emergence of Homo sapiens, marking the beginning of mammalian diversification post-dinosaurs.