NEOGENE PERIOD (23,03-2,58 Ma)
From Greek néos (new) and génos (birth).

Main events: human ancestors.

Lifeforms: the first hominins and carnivores of great dimensions like the "saber-toothed" tigers appeared. There were deciduous tree forests and meadows as well as grassy animals such as the ancestors of horses. Antelopes and bisons appeared.

Paleoenvironment: the distribution of continents and oceans was almost the same as it is now. It was the opening of the eastern Mediterranean and intercontinental tectonic trench. The newly formed Pyrenees was in an erosion phase. The climate trend was toward global cooling.

Cobblestones: not technically feasible (commercial concrete).