Geologic time scale, geological periods by Discovering Fossils

Home Shop Fossil locations Resources Events Links Contact

You are currently here: Home > Resources > Geologic time scale

In partnership with JuniorGeo

Meet the team

A free public resource dedicated to showcasing the prehistoric world. (C) 2008
Discovering Fossils is fully independent and works in partnership with JuniorGeo.

Geologic timescale

Fossil Collecting Code

Adapted from: 'A Geologic Time Scale 2004' by F.Gradstein, J.Ogg and A.Smith (available to purchase at Amazon.co.uk).

Eon

Era

Period

Epoch

Stage

Base age (mya)

Fossil collecting locations

C
A
E
N
O
Z
O
I
C

N
E
O
G
E
N
E

Q
U
A
T
E
R
N
A
R
Y

Holocene

0.0115

Pleistocene

Late / Upper

0.126

Middle

0.781

Pakefield

Early / Lower

1.806

Pliocene

Gelasian

2.588

Piacenzian

3.600

Walton-on-the-Naze

Zanclean

5.332

Miocene

Messinian

7.246

Tortonian

11.608

Serravallian

13.65

Langhian

15.97

Burdigalian

20.43

Aquitanian

23.03

P
A
L
A
E
O
G
E
N
E

Oligocene

Chattian

28.4 ± 0.1

Rupelian

33.9 ± 0.1

Bouldnor

Eocene

Priabonian

37.2 ± 0.1

Alum Bay

Bartonian

40.4 ± 0.2

Alum Bay Barton on Sea

Lutetian

48.6 ± 0.2

Alum Bay Bracklesham Bay

Ypresian

55.8 ± 0.2

Abbey Wood Alum Bay Herne Bay Isle of Sheppey

Walton-on-the-Naze

Palaeocene

Thanetian

58.7 ± 0.2

Selandian

61.7 ± 0.2

Danian

65.5 ± 0.3

M
E
S
O
Z
O
I
C

C
R
E
T
A
C
E
O
U
S

Late / Upper

Maastrichtian

70.6 ± 0.6

Campanian

83.5 ± 0.7

Peacehaven

Santonian

85.8 ± 0.7

Peacehaven Seaford Seven Sisters

Coniacian

89.3 ± 1.0

Lulworth Cove Seaford Seven Sisters

Turonian

93.5 ± 0.8

Dover Eastbourne Lulworth Cove

Cenomanian

99.6 ± 0.9

Eastbourne Hunstanton Lulworth Cove

Early / Lower

Albian

112.0 ± 1.0

Eastbourne Folkestone Hunstanton Lulworth Cove

Aptian

125.0 ± 1.0

Lulworth Cove

Barremian

130.0 ± 1.5

Hanover Point Lulworth Cove

Hauterivian

136.4 ± 2.0

Lulworth Cove

Valanginian

140.2 ± 3.0

Lulworth Cove

Berriasian

145.5 ± 4.0

Durlston Bay Hastings Lulworth Cove

J
U
R
A
S
S
I
C

Late / Upper

Tithonian

150.8 ± 4.0

Lulworth Cove

Kimmeridgian

155.7 ± 4.0

Chapman's Pool Kimmeridge

Oxfordian

161.2 ± 4.0

Grafham Water Osmington Mills

Middle

Callovian

164.7 ± 4.0

Brora River

Bathonian

167.7 ± 3.5

Ardley Quarry Burton Bradstock Woodeaton Quarry

Bajocian

171.6 ± 3.0

Burton Bradstock Isle of Skye

Aalenian

175.6 ± 2.0

Burton Bradstock

Early / Lower

Toarcian

183.0 ± 1.5

Burton Bradstock Eype Kettleness Port Mulgrave

Pliensbachian

189.6 ± 1.5

Charmouth Eype Kettleness Lyme Regis Seatown

Sinemurian

196.5 ± 1.0

Charmouth Dunrobin Castle Llantwit Majo r (?)

Quantoxhead Lyme Regis

Hettangian

199.6 ± 0.6

Quantoxhead Blue Anchor

T
R
I
A
S
S
I
C

Late / Upper

Rhaetian

203.6 ± 1.5

Aust Blue Anchor

Norian

216.5 ± 2.0

Aust Blue Anchor

Carnian

228.0 ± 2.0

Middle

Ladinian

237.0 ± 2.0

Anisian

245.0 ± 1.5

Early / Lower

Olenekian

249.7 ± 0.7

Induan

251.0 ± 0.4

P
A
L
A
E
O
Z
O
I
C

P
E
R
M
I
A
N

Lopingian

Changhsingian

253.8 ± 0.7

Wuchiapingian

260.4 ± 0.7

Guadalupian

Capitanian

265.8 ± 0.7

Wordian

268.0 ± 0.7

Roadian

270.6 ± 0.7

Cisuralian

Kungurian

275.6 ± 0.7

Artinskian

284.4 ± 0.7

Sakmarian

294.6 ± 0.8

Asselian

299.0 ± 0.8

C
A
R
B
O
N
I
F
E
R
O
U
S

Pennsylvanian (Late)

Gzhelian

303.9 ± 0.9

Kasimovian

306.5 ± 1.0

Pennsylvanian (Middle)

Moscovian

311.7 ± 1.1

Pennsylvanian (Early)

Bashkirian

318.1 ± 1.3

Mississippian (Late)

Serpukhovian

326.4 ± 1.6

Mississippian (Middle)

Visean

345.3 ± 2.1

Aberlady Crail

Mississippian (Early)

Tournaisian

359.2 ± 2.5

D
E
V
O
N
I
A
N

Late / Upper

Famennian

374.5 ± 2.6

Frasnian

385.3 ± 2.6

Middle

Givetian

391.8 ± 2.7

Eifelian

397.5 ± 2.7

Early / Lower

Emsian

407.0 ± 2.6

Pragian

411.2 ± 2.8

Lochkovian

416.0 ± 2.8

S
I
L
U
R
I
A
N

Pridoli

418.7 ± 2.7

Ludlow

Ludfordian

421.3 ± 2.6

Gordtian

422.9 ± 2.5

Marloes Sands

Wenlock

Homerian

426.2 ± 2.4

Marloes Sands Much Wenlock

Sheinwoodian

428.2 ± 2.3

Marloes Sands

Llandovery

Telychian

436.0 ± 1.9

Marloes Sands

Aeronian

439.0 ± 1.8

Marloes Sands

Rhuddanian

443.7 ± 1.5

O
R
D
O
V
I
C
I
A
N

Late / Upper

Hirnantian

445.6 ± 1.5

455.8 ± 1.6

460.9 ± 1.6

Middle

Darriwilian

468.1 ± 1.6

471.8 ± 1.6

Early / Lower

478.6 ± 1.7

Tremadocian

488.3 ± 1.7

C
A
M
B
R
I
A
N

Furongian

Paibian

501.0 ± 2.0

Middle

513.0 ± 2.0

Early / Lower

542.0 ± 1.0

Precambrian

	Eon	Era	Period	Base age (mya)
P R E C A M B R I A N	P R O T E R O Z O I C	Neoproterozoic	Ediacaran	630
			Cryogenian	850
			Tonian	1,000
		Mesoproterozoic	Stenian	1,200
			Ectasian	1,400
			Calymmian	1,600
		Paleoproterozoic	Statherian	1,800
			Orosirian	2,050
			Rhyacian	2,300
			Siderian	2,500
	A R C H E A N	Neoarchean	-	2,800
		Mesoarchean	-	3,200
		Paleoarchean	-	3,600
		Eoarchean	-	Base not defined

Adapted from: 'A Geologic Time Scale 2004' by F.Gradstein, J.Ogg and A.Smith (available to purchase at Amazon.co.uk)

Visit our online shop...

Join us on a fossil hunt...

Printing guidelines: Discovering Fossils is designed to be printed in landscape (horizontal) format; printing in portrait format will result in text being missed. To print selected pages, simply select print from your internet browser and specify landscape from the printer's 'Properties' menu. Printing is permitted for non-commercial use and is subject to international copyright law. If you experience any difficulties printing or have a question regarding the use of printed materials please contact us for further information.

Safety notice: Fossil hunting can at times pose a risk to personal safety, in particular within environments close to the coast, cliffs or in quarries and when using the tools and equipment illustrated. Discovering Fossils provides a free resource to inform you about this fascinating subject and does not accept any liability for decisions made using this information. We recommend all individuals abide by the 'National Fossil Hunting Code' and independently research the potential dangers before and during the visit.

Shop Home Fossil locations Resources Events Contact