Scientists are preparing to proclaim a new epoch on Earth - the Anthropocene. 

Human influence on the Earth has brought about radical changes, and a group of international scientists known as the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) is determined to officially declare this new era. 

Comprised of geologists, stratigraphers, and experts from various disciplines, the AWG aims to define the Anthropocene Earth Age based on scientific evidence. 

They are currently collecting data to identify specific markers in rock strata that indicate when human impact on the planet's geology became irreversible. These markers will also enable future generations to easily detect human traces in rocks.

Established in 2009 by the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS), a subcommittee of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), the AWG has been dedicated to assessing the Anthropocene as a distinct geological time unit. 

In 2016, the group agreed by majority vote that the Anthropocene is a geological reality that began in the mid-20th century, coinciding with the period known as the 'Great Acceleration.'

To define the start of this epoch, the AWG plans to establish a Global Stratigraphic Section and Point (GSSP), which serves as a reference point denoting the boundary of a stage on the geological time scale. This GSSP will demonstrate a global and abrupt change in nature.

The AWG recently commenced a voting process to select the most suitable site for the Anthropocene GSSP among twelve research locations. 

On July 11th, during the International Congress of Stratigraphy in Lille, France, the AWG unveiled its chosen site and offered initial recommendations on the historical date that should mark the beginning of this new Earth epoch.

If the selected GSSP site successfully passes three additional voting stages conducted by the SQS, the ICS, and the International Union of Geological Sciences, it will be officially ratified and added to the International Chronostratigraphic Chart.

The concept of the Anthropocene epoch highlights humanity's significant role in shaping Earth's history. 

It signifies a departure from viewing the environment solely as a resource, emphasising that humans have become a planetary force. 

The traditional boundaries between nature and culture are dissolving, leading to far-reaching consequences that continue to unfold.