Super
eon
Eon
Era
Period[15]
Series /
Epoch
Stage[16] / Age
Atlantic
Cenozoic
Neogene
Phaneroz
Holocene
[17
(Tertiary) (Tertiary/Quaterna
oic
(Quaternary) Boreal
]
ry)[17]
Major events
Start,
million
years
ago[16]
The last glacial
period ends and
rise of human
civilization.
Quaternary Ice
Age recedes,
and the current
interglacial
begins.
Younger Dryas
cold spell
occurs, Sahara
Desert forms
from savannah,
and agriculture
begins,
allowing
humans to
build cities.
Paleolithic/Neo
lithic (Stone
Age) cultures
begin around
0.011430
10,000 BC,
± 0.00013[1
giving way to 7][19]
Copper Age
(3500 BC) and
Bronze Age
(2500 BC).
Cultures
continue to
grow in
complexity and
technical
advancement
through the
Iron Age (1200
BC), giving
rise to many
pre-historic
cultures
throughout the
world,
eventually
leading into
Classical
Antiquity, such
as Ancient
Rome and even
to the Middle
Ages and
present day.
Little Ice Age
(stadial) causes
brief cooling in
Northern
Hemisphere
from 1400 to
1850. Also
refer to the List
of
archaeological
periods for
clarification on
early cultures
and ages.
Mount
Tambora erupts
in 1815,
causing the
Year Without a
Summer (1816)
in Europe and
North America
from a volcanic
winter.
atmospheric
CO2 levels start
creeping from
100 ppmv at
the end of the
last glaciation
to the current
level of 385
parts per
million volume
(ppmv),
causing,
according to
some sources,
global warming
and climate
change,
possibly from
anthropogenic
sources, such
as the
Industrial
Revolution[18]
Pleistocene Late/Tyrrhenian
Flourishing and 0.126
(Quaternary) Stage/Eemian/Sanga then extinction ± 0.005*
monian
Middle
Early
Gelasian
of many large
mammals
(Pleistocene
megafauna).
Evolution of
anatomically
modern
humans.
Quaternary Ice
Age continues
with glaciations
and
interstadials
(and the
accompanying
fluctuations
from 100 to
300 ppmv in
atmospheric
Carbon
Dioxide
levels[18]),
further
intensification
of Icehouse
Earth
conditions,
roughly 1.6
MYA[20]. Last
glacial
maximum
(30,000 years
ago), last
glacial period
(18,000-15,000
years ago).
Dawn of
human stoneage cultures,
with increasing
technical
complexity
than previous
ice age
cultures, such
as engravings
and clay statues
(Venus of
Lespugue),
particularly in
the
Mediterranean
and Europe.
0.500?
1.806
± 0.005*
2.588
± 0.005*
Lake Toba
supervolcano
erupts 75,000
years before
present,
causing a
volcanic winter
and pushes
humanity to the
brink of
extinction.
Pleistocene
ends with
Oldest Dryas,
Older
Dryas/Allerød
and Younger
Dryas climate
events, with
Younger Dryas
forming the
boundary with
the Holocene.
Piacenzian/Blancan
Pliocene
(Quaternary)
Zanclean
Messinian
Tortonian
Miocene
(Tertiary)
Serravallian
Langhian
Burdigalian
Intensification
of present
Icehouse
conditions,
Present
(Quaternary)
ice age begins
roughly 2.58
MYA; cool and
dry climate.
Australopitheci
nes, many of
the existing
genera of
mammals, and
recent mollusks
appear. Homo
habilis appears.
3.600
± 0.005*
Moderate
Icehouse
climate,
puncuated by
ice ages;
Orogeny in
northern
hemisphere.
Modern
mammal and
bird families
7.246
± 0.05*
5.332
± 0.005*
11.608
± 0.05*
13.65
± 0.05*
15.97
± 0.05*
20.43
± 0.05*
Aquitanian
became
recognizable.
Horses and
mastodons
diverse.
Grasses
become
ubiquitous.
First apes
appear (for
reference see
the article:
"Sahelanthropu
s tchadensis").
Kaikoura
Orogeny forms
Southern Alps
in New
Zealand,
continues
today. Orogeny
of the Alps in
Europe slows,
but continues
to this day.
Carpathean
23.03
orogeny forms
± 0.05*
Carpathian
Mountains in
Central and
Eastern
Europe.
Hellenic
orogeny in
Greece and
Aegean Sea
slows, but
continues to
this day.
Middle
Miocene
Disruption
occurs.
Widespread
forests slowly
draw in
massive
amounts of
atmospheric
Carbon
Dioxide,
gradually
lowering the
level
atmospheric
CO2 from 650
ppmv down to
around 100
ppmv[18].
Chattian
Oligocene
(Tertiary)
Rupelian
Priabonian
Bartonian
Lutetian
Paleogene
(Tertiary)[17]
Eocene
(Tertiary)
Ypresian
Warm but
cooling
climate,
moving
towards
Icehouse;
Rapid
evolution and
diversification
of fauna,
especially
mammals.
Major
evolution and
dispersal of
modern types
of flowering
plants
28.4 ± 0.1*
Moderate,
cooling
climate.
Archaic
mammals (e.g.
Creodonts,
Condylarths,
Uintatheres,
etc) flourish
and continue to
develop during
the epoch.
Appearance of
several
"modern"
mammal
families.
Primitive
whales
diversify. First
grasses.
Reglaciation of
Antarctica and
formation of its
ice cap; Azolla
event triggers
ice age, and the
Icehouse Earth
climate that
37.2 ± 0.1*
33.9 ± 0.1*
40.4 ± 0.2*
48.6 ± 0.2*
55.8 ± 0.2*
would follow it
to this day,
from the
settlement and
decay of
seafloor algae
drawing in
massive
amounts of
atmospheric
Carbon
Dioxide[18],
lowering it
from 3800
ppmv down to
650 ppmv. End
of Laramide
and Sevier
Orogenies of
the Rocky
Mountains in
North America.
Orogeny of the
Alps in Europe
begins.
Hellenic
Orogeny begins
in Greece and
Aegean Sea.
Thanetian
Selandian
Paleocene
(Tertiary)
Danian
Climate
58.7 ± 0.2*
tropical.
61.7 ± 0.3*
Modern plants
appear;
Mammals
diversify into a
number of
primitive
lineages
following the
extinction of
the dinosaurs.
First large
mammals (up 65.5 ± 0.3*
to bear or small
hippo size).
Alpine orogeny
in Europe and
Asia begins.
Indian
Subcontinent
collides with
Asia 55
MYA[20],
Himalayan
Orogeny starts
between 52 and
48 MYA.
Maastrichtian
Campanian
Upper/Late
Santonian
Coniacian
Turonian
Cenomanian
Albian
Aptian
Barremian
Hauterivian
Valanginian
Mesozoic
Cretaceous
Lower/Early
Berriasian
Flowering
plants
proliferate,
along with new
types of
insects. More
modern teleost
fish begin to
appear.
Ammonites,
belemnites,
rudist bivalves,
echinoids and
sponges all
common. Many
new types of
dinosaurs (e.g.
Tyrannosaurs,
Titanosaurs,
duck bills, and
horned
dinosaurs)
evolve on land,
as do Eusuchia
(modern
crocodilians);
and mosasaurs
and modern
sharks appear
in the sea.
Primitive birds
gradually
replace
pterosaurs.
Monotremes,
marsupials and
placental
mammals
appear. Break
up of
Gondwana.
Beginning of
Laramide and
Sevier
Orogenies of
the Rocky
Mountains.
Atmospheric
Carbon
70.6 ± 0.6*
83.5 ± 0.7*
85.8 ± 0.7*
89.3 ± 1.0*
93.5 ± 0.8*
99.6 ± 0.9*
112.0
± 1.0*
125.0
± 1.0*
130.0
± 1.5*
136.4
± 2.0*
140.2
± 3.0*
145.5
± 4.0*
Dioxide close
to present-day
levels.
Tithonian
Upper/Late
Kimmeridgian
Oxfordian
Callovian
Bathonian
Middle
Bajocian
Aalenian
Toarcian
Pliensbachian
Sinemurian
Jurassic
Lower/Early
Hettangian
Gymnosperms
(especially
conifers,
Bennettitales
and cycads)
and ferns
common. Many
types of
dinosaurs, such
as sauropods,
carnosaurs, and
stegosaurs.
Mammals
common but
small. First
birds and
lizards.
Ichthyosaurs
and plesiosaurs
diverse.
Bivalves,
Ammonites and
belemnites
abundant. Sea
urchins very
common, along
with crinoids,
starfish,
sponges, and
terebratulid and
rhynchonellid
brachiopods.
Breakup of
Pangaea into
Gondwana and
Laurasia.
Nevadan
orogeny in
North America.
Rantigata and
Cimmerian
Orogenies taper
off.
Atmospheric
Carbon
Dioxide levels
4-5 times the
present day
levels (12001500 ppmv,
150.8
± 4.0*
155.7
± 4.0*
161.2
± 4.0*
164.7 ± 4.0
167.7
± 3.5*
171.6
± 3.0*
175.6
± 2.0*
183.0
± 1.5*
189.6
± 1.5*
196.5
± 1.0*
199.6
± 0.6*
compared to
today's 385
ppmv[18]).
Rhaetian
Upper/Late
Norian
Carnian
Ladinian
Middle
Anisian
Olenekian
Triassic
Lower/Early
("Scythian")
Paleozoic
Permian
Lopingian
Induan
Changhsingian
Archosaurs
dominant on
land as
dinosaurs, in
the oceans as
Ichthyosaurs
and nothosaurs,
and in the air as
pterosaurs.
cynodonts
become smaller
and more
mammal-like,
while first
mammals and
crocodilia
appear.
Dicrodium
flora common
on land. Many
large aquatic
temnospondyl
amphibians.
Ceratitic
ammonoids
extremely
common.
Modern corals
and teleost fish
appear, as do
many modern
insect clades.
Andean
Orogeny in
South America.
Cimmerian
Orogeny in
Asia. Rangitata
Orogeny begins
in New
Zealand.
Hunter-Bowen
Orogeny in
Northern
Australia,
Queensland
and New South
Wales ends, (c.
260-225 MYA)
203.6
± 1.5*
Landmasses
253.8
216.5
± 2.0*
228.0
± 2.0*
237.0
± 2.0*
245.0
± 1.5*
249.7
± 1.5*
251.0
± 0.7*
Wuchiapingian
Capitanian
Guadalupian Wordian/Kazanian
Roadian/Ufimian
Kungurian
Artinskian
Sakmarian
Cisuralian
Asselian
unite into
supercontinent
Pangaea,
creating the
Appalachians.
End of PermoCarboniferous
glaciation.
Synapsid
reptiles
(pelycosaurs
and therapsids)
become
plentiful, while
parareptiles and
temnospondyl
amphibians
remain
common. In the
mid-Permian,
coal-age flora
are replaced by
cone-bearing
gymnosperms
(the first true
seed plants)
and by the first
true mosses.
Beetles and
flies evolve.
Marine life
flourishes in
warm shallow
reefs; productid
and spiriferid
brachiopods,
bivalves,
forams, and
ammonoids all
abundant.
PermianTriassic
extinction
event occurs
251 mya: 95%
of life on Earth
becomes
extinct,
including all
trilobites,
graptolites, and
blastoids.
Ouachita and
± 0.7*
260.4
± 0.7*
265.8
± 0.7*
268.4
± 0.7*
270.6
± 0.7*
275.6
± 0.7*
284.4
± 0.7*
294.6
± 0.8*
299.0
± 0.8*
Innuitian
orogenies in
North America.
Uralian
orogeny in
Europe/Asia
tapers off.
Altaid orogeny
in Asia.
Hunter-Bowen
Orogeny on
Australian
Continent
begins, (c. 260225 MYA).
Forms the
MacDonnell
Ranges.
Gzhelian
Upper/Late
Kasimovian
Middle
Moscovian
Carboniferous[21]/
Pennsylvanian
Lower/Early Bashkirian
Winged insects
radiate
suddenly; some
(esp.
Protodonata
and
Palaeodictyopt
era) are quite
large.
Amphibians
common and
diverse. First
reptiles and
coal forests
(scale trees,
ferns, club
trees, giant
horsetails,
Cordaites,
etc.). Highestever
atmospheric
oxygen levels.
Goniatites,
brachiopods,
bryozoa,
bivalves, and
corals plentiful
in the seas and
oceans. Testate
forams
proliferate.
Uralian
orogeny in
Europe and
303.9
± 0.9*
306.5
± 1.0*
311.7
± 1.1*
318.1
± 1.3*
Asia. Variscan
orogeny occurs
towards middle
and late
Mississippian
Periods.
Upper/Late
Serpukhovian
Middle
Viséan
Carboniferous[21]/
Mississippian
Lower/Early Tournaisian
Famennian
Upper/Late
Devonian
Frasnian
Middle
Givetian
Large primitive
trees, first land
vertebrates, and
amphibious
sea-scorpions
live amid coalforming coastal
swamps. Lobefinned
rhizodonts are
dominant big
fresh-water
predators. In
the oceans,
early sharks are
common and
quite diverse;
echinoderms
(especially
crinoids and
blastoids)
abundant.
Corals,
bryozoa,
goniatites and
brachiopods
(Productida,
Spiriferida,
etc.) very
common. But
trilobites and
nautiloids
decline.
Glaciation in
East
Gondwana.
Tuhua Orogeny
in New
Zealand tapers
off.
326.4
± 1.6*
First
clubmosses,
horsetails and
ferns appear, as
do the first
seed-bearing
374.5
± 2.6*
345.3
± 2.1*
359.2
± 2.5*
385.3
± 2.6*
391.8
± 2.7*
Eifelian
Emsian
Pragian
Lower/Early
Lochkovian
plants
(progymnosper
ms), first trees
(the
progymnosper
m
Archaeopteris),
and first
(wingless)
insects.
Strophomenid
and atrypid
brachiopods,
rugose and
tabulate corals,
and crinoids
are all
abundant in the
oceans.
Goniatite
ammonoids are
plentiful, while
squid-like
coleoids arise.
Trilobites and
armoured
agnaths
decline, while
jawed fishes
(placoderms,
lobe-finned and
ray-finned fish,
and early
sharks) rule the
seas. First
amphibians still
aquatic. "Old
Red Continent"
of Euramerica.
Beginning of
Acadian
Orogeny for
Anti-Atlas
Mountains of
North Africa,
and
Appalachian
Mountains of
North America,
also the Antler,
Variscan, and
Tuhua Orogeny
in New
397.5
± 2.7*
407.0
± 2.8*
411.2
± 2.8*
416.0
± 2.8*
Zealand.
First Vascular
plants (the
rhyniophytes
Ludfordian
and their
Ludlow/Cay
relatives), first
ugan
millipedes and
Gorstian
arthropleurids
Homerian/Lockportia on land. First
jawed fishes, as
n
Wenlock
well as many
Sheinwoodian/Tona armoured
wandan
jawless fish,
populate the
Telychian/Ontarian seas. Seascorpions reach
large size.
Aeronian
Tabulate and
rugose corals,
brachiopods
(Pentamerida,
Rhynchonellida
, etc.), and
crinoids all
abundant.
Trilobites and
mollusks
diverse;
graptolites not
as varied.
Beginning of
Caledonian
Llandovery/
Orogeny for
Alexandrian
hills in
England,
Rhuddanian
Ireland, Wales,
Scotland, and
the
Scandinavian
Mountains.
Also continued
into Devonian
period as the
Acadian
Orogeny,
above. Taconic
Orogeny tapers
off. Lachlan
Orogeny on
Australian
Continent
tapers off.
418.7
± 2.7*
Upper/Late
445.6
Pridoli
Silurian
Ordovician
no faunal stages
defined
Hirnantian
Invertebrates
421.3
± 2.6*
422.9
± 2.5*
426.2
± 2.4*
428.2
± 2.3*
436.0
± 1.9*
439.0
± 1.8*
443.7
± 1.5*
other faunal stages
Darriwilian
Middle
other faunal stages
Arenig
Lower/Early
Tremadocian
Major
diversification
of life in the
Paibian/Ibexian/
Furongian
Ayusokkanian/Sakia Cambrian
Explosion.
n/
Many fossils;
Aksayan
most modern
other faunal
animal phyla
Middle
stages/Albertan
appear. First
chordates
appear, along
with a number
other faunal stages/ of extinct,
Waucoban/Tommoti problematic
Lower/Early an/
phyla. ReefAtdabanian/Botomia building
n
Archaeocyatha
abundant; then
vanish.
other faunal stages
Cambrian
diversify into
many new
types (e.g.,
long straightshelled
cephalopods).
Early corals,
articulate
brachiopods
(Orthida,
Strophomenida,
etc.), bivalves,
nautiloids,
trilobites,
ostracods,
bryozoa, many
types of
echinoderms
(crinoids,
cystoids,
starfish, etc.),
branched
graptolites, and
other taxa all
common.
Conodonts
(early
planktonic
vertebrates)
appear. First
green plants
and fungi on
land. Ice age at
end of period.
± 1.5*
460.9
± 1.6*
468.1
± 1.6*
471.8
± 1.6*
478.6
± 1.7*
488.3
± 1.7*
496.0
± 2.0*
501.0
± 2.0*
513.0 ± 2.0
542.0
± 1.0*
Trilobites,
priapulid
worms,
sponges,
inarticulate
brachiopods
(unhinged
lampshells),
and many other
animals
numerous.
Anomalocarids
are giant
predators,
while many
Ediacaran
fauna die out.
Prokaryotes,
protists (e.g.,
forams), fungi
and algae
continue to
present day.
Gondwana
emerges.
Petermann
Orogeny on the
Australian
Continent
tapers off (550535 MYA).
Ross Orogeny
in Antarctica.
Adelaide
Geosyncline
(Delamerian
Orogeny),
majority of
orogenic
activity from
514-500 MYA.
Lachlan
Orogeny on
Australian
Continent, c.
540-440 MYA.
Atmospheric
Carbon
Dioxide
content roughly
20-35 times
present-day
(Holocene)
levels (6000
ppmv
compared to
today's 385
ppmv)[18]
Ediacaran
Neoproterozoic[ Cryogenian
23]
Possible "Snowball Earth" period. Fossils still rare.
Rodinia landmass begins to break up. Late Ruker /
Nimrod Orogeny in Antarctica tapers off.
850[24]
Tonian
Rodinia supercontinent persists. Trace fossils of
simple multi-celled eukaryotes. First radiation of
dinoflagellate-like acritarchs. Grenville Orogeny
tapers off in North America. Pan-African orogeny in
Africa. Lake Ruker / Nimrod Orogeny in Antarctica,
1000[24]
1000 ± 150 MYA. Edmundian Orogeny (c. 920 850 MYA), Gascoyne Complex, Western Australia.
Adelaide Geosyncline laid down on Australian
Continent, beginning of Adelaide Geosyncline
(Delamerian Orogeny) in that continent.
Stenian
Narrow highly metamorphic belts due to orogeny as
Rodinia formed. Late Ruker / Nimrod Orogeny in
1200[24]
Antarctica possibly begins. Musgrave Orogeny (c.
1080 MYA), Musgrave Block, Central Australia.
Preca
mProterbrian[ ozoic[23]
22]
Mesoproterozoic[ Ectasian
Platform covers continue to expand. Green algae
colonies in the seas. Grenville Orogeny in North
America.
1400[24]
Calymmian
Platform covers expand. Barramundi Orogeny,
MacArthur Basin, Northern Australia, and Isan
Orogeny, c. 1600 MYA, Mount Isa Block,
Queensland
1600[24]
Statherian
First complex single-celled life: protists with nuclei.
Columbia is the primordial supercontinent. Kimban
Orogeny in Australian Continent ends. Yapungku
Orogeny on North Yilgarn craton, in Western
1800[24]
Australia. Mangaroon Orogeny, 1680-1620 MYA,
on the Gascoyne Complex in Western Australia.
Kararan Orogeny (1650- MYA), Gawler Craton,
South Australia.
Orosirian
The atmosphere became oxygenic. Vredefort and
Sudbury Basin asteroid impacts. Much orogeny.
2050[24]
Penokean and Trans-Hudsonian Orogenies in North
23]
Paleoproterozoic[
Good fossils of the first multi-celled animals.
Ediacaran biota flourish worldwide in seas. Simple
trace fossils of possible worm-like Trichophycus,
etc. First sponges and trilobitomorphs. Enigmatic
forms include many soft-jellied creatures shaped like
630 +5/-30*
bags, disks, or quilts (like Dickinsonia). Taconic
Orogeny in North America. Aravalli Range orogeny
in Indian Subcontinent. Beginning of Petermann
Orogeny on Australian Continent. Beardmore
Orogeny in Antarctica, 633-620 MYA.
23]
America. Early Ruker Orogeny in Antarctica, 2000 1700 MYA. Glenburgh Orogeny, Glenburgh
Terrane, Australian Continent c. 2005 - 1920 MYA.
Kimban Orogeny, Gawler craton in Australian
Continent begins.
Neoarchean
[23]
Rhyacian
Bushveld Formation formed. Huronian glaciation.
2300[24]
Siderian
Oxygen Catastrophe: banded iron formations
formed. Sleaford Orogeny on Australian Continent,
Gawler Craton 2440-2420 MYA.
2500[24]
Stabilization of most modern cratons; possible mantle overturn event.
Insell Orogeny, 2650 ± 150 MYA. Abitibi greenstone belt in presentday Ontario and Quebec begins to form, stablizes by 2600 MYA.
First stromatolites (probably colonial cyanobacteria). Oldest
Mesoarchea macrofossils. Humboldt Orogeny in Antarctica. Blake River
n[23]
Megacaldera Complex begins to form in present-day Ontario and
Archean[
Quebec, ends by roughly 2696 MYA.
23]
First known oxygen-producing bacteria. Oldest definitive microfossils.
Paleoarchea Oldest cratons on earth (such as the Canadian Shield and the Pilbara
n[23]
Craton) may have formed during this period[25]. Rayner Orogeny in
Antarctica.
2800[24]
3200[24]
3600[24]
Eoarchean[2 Simple single-celled life (probably bacteria and perhaps archaea). Oldest
3800
3]
probable microfossils.
Lower
This era overlaps the end of the Late Heavy Bombardment of the inner
Imbrian[23][2
solar system.
7]
Nectarian[23
][27]
Hadean
[23][26]
This era gets its name from the lunar geologic timescale when the
Nectaris Basin and other major lunar basins were formed by large
impact events.
c.3850
c.3920
Basin
Oldest known rock (4030 Ma)[28]. The first Lifeforms and self[23][27
Groups
replicating RNA molecules may have evolved on earth around 4000 Ma c.4150
]
during this era. Napier Orogeny in Antarctica, 4000 ± 200 MYA.
Cryptic[23][2
7]
Oldest known mineral (Zircon, 4406±8 Ma[29]). Formation of Moon
(4533 Ma), probably from giant impact. Formation of Earth (4567.17 to c.4570
4570 Ma)