Strata

Geologic time

Drawn by us from the interval articles — boundary ages as Macrostrat and the Paleobiology Database publish them (CC BY 4.0), colours as the ICS chart assigns them. Linear within each panel; the Phanerozoic gets its own so the last 541 million years are legible. Every band is an article.

Phanerozoic 541–0 Ma

050100150200250300350400450500ERASPaleozoic · 539–252 MaPaleozoicMesozoic · 252–66 MaMesozoicCenozoic · 66–0 MaCenozoicPERIODSCambrian · 539–487 MaCambrianOrdovician · 487–444 MaOrdovicianSilurian · 444–419 MaSilurianDevonian · 419–359 MaDevonianCarboniferous · 359–299 MaCarboniferousPermian · 299–252 MaPermianTriassic · 252–201 MaTriassicJurassic · 201–143 MaJurassicCretaceous · 143–66 MaCretaceousPaleogene · 66–23 MaPaleogeneNeogene · 23–2.58 MaNeogeneQuaternary · 2.58–0 MaEPOCHSTerreneuvian · 539–521 MaTerreneuvianCambrian Series 2 · 521–506 MaCambrian Series 2Miaolingian · 506–497 MaMiaolingianFurongian · 497–487 MaFurongianEarly Ordovician · 487–471 MaEarly OrdovicianMiddle Ordovician · 471–458 MaMiddle OrdovicianLate Ordovician · 458–444 MaLate OrdovicianLlandovery · 444–433 MaLlandoveryWenlock · 433–427 MaWenlockLudlow · 427–423 MaPridoli · 423–420 MaEarly Devonian · 419–393 MaEarly DevonianMiddle Devonian · 393–383 MaMiddle DevonianLate Devonian · 383–359 MaLate DevonianCisuralian · 299–273 MaCisuralianGuadalupian · 273–260 MaGuadalupianLopingian · 260–252 MaLopingianEarly Triassic · 252–247 MaEarly TriassicMiddle Triassic · 247–237 MaMiddle TriassicLate Triassic · 237–201 MaLate TriassicEarly Jurassic · 201–175 MaEarly JurassicMiddle Jurassic · 175–162 MaMiddle JurassicLate Jurassic · 162–143 MaLate JurassicEarly Cretaceous · 143–100 MaEarly CretaceousLate Cretaceous · 100–66 MaLate CretaceousPaleocene · 66–56 MaPaleoceneEocene · 56–33.9 MaEoceneOligocene · 33.9–23 MaOligoceneMiocene · 23–5.33 MaMiocenePliocene · 5.33–2.58 MaPleistocene · 2.58–0.01 MaHolocene · 0.01–0 MaAGESFortunian · 539–529 MaFortunianCambrian Stage 2 · 529–521 MaCambrian Stage 2Stage 2 · 529–521 MaStage 2Cambrian Stage 3 · 521–514 MaCambrian Stage 3Stage 3 · 521–514 MaStage 3Cambrian Stage 4 · 514–506 MaCambrian Stage 4Stage 4 · 514–506 MaStage 4Wuliuan · 506–504 MaDrumian · 504–500 MaGuzhangian · 500–497 MaPaibian · 497–494 MaJiangshanian · 494–491 MaStage 10 · 491–487 MaCambrian Stage 10 · 490–487 MaTremadocian · 487–477 MaTremadocianFloian · 477–471 MaFloianDapingian · 471–469 MaDarriwilian · 469–458 MaDarriwilianSandbian · 458–453 MaSandbianKatian · 453–445 MaKatianHirnantian · 445–443 MaRhuddanian · 443–440 MaAeronian · 440–439 MaTelychian · 439–433 MaTelychianSheinwoodian · 433–431 MaHomerian · 431–427 MaGorstian · 427–425 MaLudfordian · 425–423 MaLochkovian · 420–413 MaLochkovianPragian · 413–411 MaEmsian · 411–393 MaEmsianEifelian · 393–388 MaEifelianGivetian · 388–382 MaGivetianFrasnian · 382–372 MaFrasnianFamennian · 372–359 MaFamennianTournaisian · 359–347 MaTournaisianVisean · 347–330 MaViseanSerpukhovian · 330–323 MaSerpukhovianBashkirian · 323–315 MaBashkirianMoscovian · 315–307 MaMoscovianKasimovian · 307–304 MaGzhelian · 304–299 MaGzhelianAsselian · 299–294 MaAsselianSakmarian · 294–290 MaArtinskian · 290–283 MaArtinskianKungurian · 283–274 MaKungurianRoadian · 274–267 MaRoadianWordian · 267–264 MaCapitanian · 264–260 MaWuchiapingian · 260–254 MaWuchiapingianChanghsingian · 254–252 MaInduan · 252–250 MaOlenekian · 250–247 MaAnisian · 247–241 MaAnisianLadinian · 241–237 MaCarnian · 237–227 MaCarnianNorian · 227–206 MaNorianRhaetian · 206–201 MaRhaetianHettangian · 201–200 MaSinemurian · 200–193 MaSinemurianPliensbachian · 193–184 MaPliensbachianToarcian · 184–175 MaToarcianAalenian · 175–171 MaBajocian · 171–168 MaBathonian · 168–165 MaCallovian · 165–162 MaOxfordian · 162–155 MaOxfordianKimmeridgian · 155–149 MaKimmeridgianTithonian · 149–143 MaTithonianBerriasian · 143–137 MaBerriasianValanginian · 137–133 MaHauterivian · 133–126 MaHauterivianBarremian · 126–121 MaBarremianAptian · 121–113 MaAptianAlbian · 113–100 MaAlbianCenomanian · 100–93.9 MaCenomanianTuronian · 93.9–89.8 MaConiacian · 89.8–85.7 MaSantonian · 85.7–83.6 MaCampanian · 83.6–72.2 MaCampanianMaastrichtian · 72.2–66 MaMaastrichtianDanian · 66–61.7 MaDanianSelandian · 61.7–59.2 MaThanetian · 59.2–56 MaYpresian · 56–48.1 MaYpresianLutetian · 48.1–41 MaLutetianBartonian · 41–37.7 MaPriabonian · 37.7–33.9 MaRupelian · 33.9–27.3 MaRupelianChattian · 27.3–23 MaChattianAquitanian · 23–20.4 MaBurdigalian · 20.4–16 MaBurdigalianLanghian · 16–13.8 MaSerravallian · 13.8–11.6 MaTortonian · 11.6–7.25 MaTortonianMessinian · 7.25–5.33 MaZanclean · 5.33–3.6 MaPiacenzian · 3.6–2.58 MaGelasian · 2.58–1.8 MaCalabrian · 1.8–0.77 MaChibanian · 0.77–0.13 MaLate Pleistocene · 0.13–0.01 MaGreenlandian · 0.01–0.01 MaNorthgrippian · 0.01–0 MaMeghalayan · 0–0 Ma

Precambrian 4600–541 Ma

Archaeological time 3 Ma – present, by region

The human-scale track: periods as the Strata's archaeology articles define them, one row per macro-region, on a logarithmic axis of years before 2000 CE. Each band is an article; the PeriodO definition it cites is on the page.

East Asia
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yJomonJomon · 10500 BCE – 300 BCEChinese NeolithicChinese Neolithic · 7000 BCE – 2000 BCEShangShang · 1600 BCE – 1050 BCEZhouZhou · 1050 BCE – 256 BCEQinQin · 221 BCE – 206 BCEHanHan · 206 BCE – 220 CEKofunKofun · 250 CE – 538 CETangTang · 618 CE – 907 CESongSong · 960 CE – 1279 CEMingMing · 1368 CE – 1644 CEQingQing · 1644 CE – 1912 CE
Egypt & Nile Valley
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yPredynasticPredynastic · 4500 BCE – 3100 BCEOld KingdomOld Kingdom · 2700 BCE – 2200 BCEMiddle KingdomMiddle Kingdom · 2050 BCE – 1650 BCENew KingdomNew Kingdom · 1550 BCE – 1070 BCELate Period (Egypt)Late Period (Egypt) · 700 BCE – 330 BCEPtolemaicPtolemaic · 330 BCE – 30 BCERoman EgyptRoman Egypt · 30 BCE – 640 CE
Europe — Mediterranean
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yMinoanMinoan · 3000 BCE – 1450 BCEMycenaeanMycenaean · 1600 BCE – 1100 BCEGeometricGeometric · 900 BCE – 700 BCEArchaic GreekArchaic Greek · 700 BCE – 480 BCERoman RepublicRoman Republic · 509 BCE – 27 BCEClassical GreekClassical Greek · 480 BCE – 323 BCEHellenisticHellenistic · 323 BCE – 30 BCERoman EmpireRoman Empire · 27 BCE – 476 CELate AntiqueLate Antique · 300 CE – 700 CE
Europe — Western & Central
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yLower PalaeolithicLower Palaeolithic · 3300000 BCE – 300000 BCEMiddle PalaeolithicMiddle Palaeolithic · 300000 BCE – 45000 BCEUpper PalaeolithicUpper Palaeolithic · 45000 BCE – 10000 BCEMesolithicMesolithic · 10000 BCE – 5000 BCENeolithicNeolithic · 7000 BCE – 3500 BCEChalcolithicChalcolithic · 4500 BCE – 2300 BCEEarly Bronze AgeEarly Bronze Age · 2300 BCE – 1600 BCEMiddle Bronze AgeMiddle Bronze Age · 1600 BCE – 1200 BCELate Bronze AgeLate Bronze Age · 1200 BCE – 800 BCEHallstattHallstatt · 800 BCE – 450 BCEIron AgeIron Age · 800 BCE – 50 BCELa TèneLa Tène · 450 BCE – 50 BCEEarly MedievalEarly Medieval · 500 CE – 1000 CEMedievalMedieval · 1000 CE – 1500 CEPost-medievalPost-medieval · 1500 CE – 1800 CE
Mesoamerica
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yEarly PreclassicEarly Preclassic · 2000 BCE – 1000 BCELate PreclassicLate Preclassic · 1000 BCE – 250 CEEarly ClassicEarly Classic · 250 CE – 600 CELate ClassicLate Classic · 600 CE – 900 CEEarly PostclassicEarly Postclassic · 900 CE – 1200 CELate PostclassicLate Postclassic · 1200 CE – 1521 CE
Near East & Mesopotamia
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yUbaidUbaid · 6500 BCE – 3800 BCEUrukUruk · 4000 BCE – 3100 BCEEarly DynasticEarly Dynastic · 2900 BCE – 2350 BCEHarappanHarappan · 2600 BCE – 1900 BCEAkkadianAkkadian · 2350 BCE – 2150 BCEOld BabylonianOld Babylonian · 2000 BCE – 1600 BCENeo-AssyrianNeo-Assyrian · 900 BCE – 600 BCEAchaemenidAchaemenid · 550 BCE – 330 BCEParthianParthian · 250 BCE – 220 CESasanianSasanian · 220 CE – 650 CE
North America — Eastern Woodlands
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yPaleoindianPaleoindian · 13000 BCE – 8000 BCEEarly ArchaicEarly Archaic · 8000 BCE – 6000 BCEMiddle ArchaicMiddle Archaic · 6000 BCE – 3000 BCELate ArchaicLate Archaic · 3000 BCE – 1000 BCEEarly WoodlandEarly Woodland · 1000 BCE – 200 BCEMiddle WoodlandMiddle Woodland · 200 BCE – 500 CELate WoodlandLate Woodland · 500 CE – 1000 CEHistoricHistoric · 1600 CE – 1950 CE
North America — Great Plains
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yLate PrehistoricLate Prehistoric · 500 CE – 1700 CEProtohistoricProtohistoric · 1500 CE – 1750 CE
North America — Southeast
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yMississippianMississippian · 1000 CE – 1600 CE
South America — Andes
1 Ma100 ka10 ka5 ka2 ka1 ka500 y100 yEarly HorizonEarly Horizon · 900 BCE – 200 BCEEarly Intermediate PeriodEarly Intermediate Period · 200 BCE – 600 CEMiddle HorizonMiddle Horizon · 600 CE – 1000 CELate Intermediate PeriodLate Intermediate Period · 1000 CE – 1400 CELate HorizonLate Horizon · 1400 CE – 1532 CE

All intervals

Stratum is the inventory, provenance and certificate system for fossil, mineral and shell collections. Strata is its open reference: every fact cites its source, and the credits page lists each one with its licence.