The Quaternary in South Carolina, US

Paleontology and geology

The presence of modern species in the South Carolina’s Quaternary fossil record indicates that the area was much like today, with warm summers and mild winters. The rise and fall of sea level had a dramatic effect on the flora and fauna of the state during this time interval. Limited information from fossil plants indicates variations in temperature from relatively cool intervals to relatively warm ones. Pollen from jack pine is very common in the deposits representing the cooler times. This map indicates a large expanse of Quaternary deposits along the eastern coast of South Carolina.