Pliocene-lower Pleistocene chronostratigraphy: A re-evaluation of Mediterranean type sections

The recently developed calcareous plankton biochronology based on results from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 107 and numerous outcrop sections provides the necessary time control for evaluating the ages and stratigraphic relationships for the various Pliocene-Pleistocene stages and their associated stratotypes. Results indicate that the currently accepted stratotypes do not provide a continuous stratigraphic representation for all of Pliocene-early Pleistocene time. On the basis of these findings, a revised chronostratigraphic scheme for this time period is proposed