The Anthropocene

Science Daily: Scientists peg Anthropocene to first farmers - Study shows 300-million-year natural pattern ended 6,000 years ago because of human activity

summary - A new analysis of the fossil record shows that a deep pattern in the structure of plant and animal communities remained the same for 300 million years. Then, 6,000 years ago, the pattern was disrupted--at about the same time that people started farming in North America and populations rose. The research suggests that humans were the cause of this profound change in nature.