The last Glacial Period or Ice Age ended about 11,700 years ago which allowed some people to start farming instead of just Hunter Gathering

 

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The most recent "ice age," also known as the Last Glacial Period, ended approximately 11,700 years ago, marking the beginning of the current interglacial period known as the Holocene epoch. This entire glacial era, called the Pleistocene, began around 2.6 million years ago and featured repeated cycles of cold glacial periods and warmer interglacial periods, during which the Earth is currently living in.
 

Key Details of the Last Ice Age

• Duration:

  The Last Glacial Period lasted for roughly 100,000 years, from about 115,000 to 11,700 years ago. 

End of the Ice Age:

The end of the Last Glacial Period was characterized by rapid warming and the melting of ice sheets, leading to a rise in sea levels. 

Human Presence:

Humans were alive and present during the Last Glacial Period and the subsequent interglacial period. 

Understanding Ice Ages

Cycles:
Earth's long-term climate history features periods of extensive glaciation called "ice ages". 

Glacial vs. Interglacial:

Within an ice age, the climate oscillates between cold "glacial periods" (when ice sheets expand) and warmer "interglacial periods" (when ice sheets recede, like the one we are in now). 

Current Status:

The Earth is technically still in the Pleistocene ice age, but we are currently living in a warm interglacial phase. 

Possible Future:

While the next glacial period was once expected in about 10,000 years, some scientists now believe that human-caused climate change may prevent it for much longer. 

• How Did the Ice Age End? A Geologist Explains | AMNH

  Could another one start? — Chase H., Grade 3. Geologist Ro Kinzler answers this question: Dear Chase, I like how your question add...

  

  American Museum of Natural History

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Peak of Ice Sheet Extent:

The peak, or Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), occurred around 20,000 years ago when ice sheets covered much of North America and Eurasia. 

Climate:

The average global temperature during the LGM was about 6°C (11°F) colder than today's temperatures. 

Last Glacial Maximum - Wikipedia

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