International Chronostratigraphic Timescale

The interval definitions in this timescale are derived from the following sources:

  • K. M. Cohen, S.C. Finney, P.L. Gibbard and J.-X. Fan. 2023. The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart v2023/09. view
  • F. F. Steininger, W. A. Berggren, D. V. Kent, R. L. Bernor, S. Sen and J. Agusti. 1996. Circum-Mediterranean Neogene (Miocene and Pliocene) marine-continental chronologic correlations of European mammal units. The Evolution of Western Eurasian Neogene Mammal Faunas (eds. R. L. Bernor, V. Fahlbusch, and H.-W. Mittmann) view
  • M. O. Woodburne. 1987. A prospectus of the North American Mammal Ages. In: Woodburne, M. O. (ed.), Cenozoic Mammals of North America. University of California Press, Berkelery, CA 285-290 view
  • J. Alroy. 2000. New methods for quantifying macroevolutionary patterns and processes. Paleobiology 26(4):707-733 view
  • W. B. Harland, R. L. Armstrong, A. V. Cox, L. E. Craig, A. G. Smith and D. G. Smith. 1990. A Geologic Time Scale 1989. view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication view
  • A. D. Barnosky, M. Holmes, R. Kirchholtes, E. Lindsey, K.C. Maguire, A.W. Poust, M.A. Stegner, J. Sunseri, B. Swartz, J. Swift, N.A. Villavicencio and G. Wogan. 2014. Prelude to the Anthropocene: Two new North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMAs). The Anthropocene Review I(3):225-242 view

There are 59 timescales which overlap this one. show

Interval boundaries marked with * have been interpolated based on the differences between the ages for international timescale boundaries quoted in the source and the currently accepted ages for those boundaries.

Interval names marked with † are no longer in current use.

This timescale is used in the definition of 126662 collections

Show more time

Show linear time

International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleEuropean Faunal ZonesNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesDevonian of FranceSilurian of EnglandCambrian of North AmericaMammal Paleogene ZonesNorth American Land Mammal AgesObsolete Names for ICS Units
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
Chibanian0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 16Tertiary †2.58
MN 153.2
Zanclean3.6
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinian5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
Serravallian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianMN 415.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early HemingfordianHemingfordian16.3
MN 316.9
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonianArikareean18.5
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17AChadronian33.9
Duchesnean37
BartonianMP 1637.71
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 556
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtian66
Campanian72.1
Santonian83.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
Cenomanian93.9
Early CretaceousAlbian100.5
Aptian113
Barremian121.4
Hauterivian125.77
Valanginian132.6
Berriasian139.8
JurassicLate JurassicTithonian145
Kimmeridgian149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
Bathonian165.3
Bajocian168.2
Aalenian170.9
Early JurassicToarcian174.7
Pliensbachian184.2
Sinemurian192.9
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
Norian208.5
Carnian227
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
Kasimovian303.7
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Visean330.9
Tournaisian346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianFamennian358.9
FrasnianFrasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGivetian382.7
EifelianCouvinien387.7
Early DevonianEmsian393.3
Pragian407.6
Coblencien408.2 *
LochkovianGedinnine410.8
SilurianPridoliRed Downtonian/Temeside Shales/Downton CastleWhitcliffe/Leintwardine419.2
Bringewood/Elton421.3
LudlowLudfordianCoalbrookdaleWenlock (England)/Tickwood423
Gorstian425.6
Buildwas426.4 *
WenlockHomerian427.4
WychWoolhope428.4 *
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
436.3 *
Aeronian438.5
Cowleigh Park439.3 *
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantian443.8
Katian445.2
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilian458.4
Dapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Tremadocian477.7
CambrianFurongianStage 10Franconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianMarjumianAlbertian †Series 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanTopazanStage 5 †504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Waucoban †509
Dyeran511 *
Stage 3514
Montezuman514.8 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
538.8