What is the Upper Holocene?

PRESENTED BY:
Jonathon Keats, Experimental Philosopher
Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals and Chair of the Department of Paleobiology

For over a decade, geologists have searched for the right site to strike an official "golden spike" marking the start of the Anthropocene. But the spike remains unstruck. But what if, instead of confirming the Anthropocene , we identified a broader Holocene with humans as part of nature rather than apart from it?


Join us as we attempt to answer this question in an activity together inside the Age of Humans Gallery in Deep Time. Through a sequence of questions and ideas to think about, participants will learn what a ”golden spike” is while also envisioning the world we want future generations to inherit.


Thoughts and ideas shared by participants will be transcribed and used as qualitative data for a future research paper focused on the public’s understanding of geological time. Consent from all participants will be requested before activity begins.

Location: This program is held in the Age of Humans Gallery inside the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time on the 1st floor of the museum.

Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible with less than two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail NMNHAccessibility@si.edu.

Image: Nick Pyenson