Abstract
Advances in micropalaeontology, magnetostratigraphy and climatostratigraphy are reviewed, illustrating both the weak correlability of the Neogene–Quaternary (N–Q) boundary and significant gaps in the Plio–Pleistocene stratotype sections. To overcome insufficiencies in the Standard Global Chronostratigraphic Scale, the two correctional steps proposed by Rio et al. (1994) are discussed. First, the introduction of a three-fold sub-division of the Pliocene (Zanclean, Piacencian, Gelesian), and secondly, the extension of the Quaternary to a bio-, magneto- and climatostratigraphic significant level, which has an astrochronological age of 2.589Ma. The currently validated GSSP is situated in the stratotype section at Vrica (southern Italy) just above the top of the Olduvai subchron. The age of the top of the Olduvai subchron is dated to around 1.77Ma or to around 1.79Ma. The proposed changes are compared with the currently validated chronostratigraphic sub-division of the Plio–Pleistocene interval.
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