Which was the end of the last ice age.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Glacial_Period

Is that the case, or is it that the method used here can't "see" prior to that ice age to predict things based on formation or rock placement, etc?

yes

Yes. Since then humanity has developed agriculture and become reliant on a stable climate to produce the calories need to sustain our enormous population. Sadly human activity has thrown the systems massively out of equilibrium. Such rapid climate change is going to seriously impact your and my lifestyle.