Prehistoric Geography

Palaeogeography

Palaeogeography is the study of the continents, the oceans and general geography in the times of ancient humans, the animals before them, the dinosaurs, the first creatures living on land, etc. It is most often associated with the physical landscape, but is known as paleogeomorphology if referring to landforms. Palaeogeography is also used in petroleum geology, to understand the evolution of a fossilised creature and helped prove continental drift and plate tectonics correct.

Geologic Time Periods

Archean Eon (3.8 billion years ago - 2.5 billion years ago)*

Eoarchean Era (3.8 billion years ago - 3.6 billion years ago)

Paleoarcheavjjkn Era (3.6 billion years ago - 3.2 billion years ago)

Mesoarchean Era (3.2 billion years ago - 2.8 billion years ago)

Neoarchean Era (2.8 billion years ago - 2.5 billion years ago)

Proterozoic Eon (2.5 billion years ago - 542 million years ago) *

Paleoproterozoic Era (2.5 billion years ago - 1.6 billion years ago)

• Siderian Period (2.5 billion years ago - 2.3 billion years ago)
• Rhyacian Period (2.3 billion years ago - 2.05 billion years ago)
• Orosirian Period (2.05 billion years ago - 1.8 billion years ago)
• Statherian Period (1.8 billion years ago - 1.6 billion years ago)

Mesoproterozoic Era (1.6 billion years ago - 1 billion years ago)

• Calymmian Period (1.6 billion years ago - 1.4 billion years ago)
• Ectasian Period (1.4 billion years ago - 1.2 billion years ago)
• Stenian Period (1.2 billion years ago - 1 billion years ago)

Neoproterozoic Era (1 billion years ago - 542 million years ago)

• Tonian Period (1 billion years ago - 850 million years ago)
• Cryogenian Period (850 million years ago - 635 million years ago)
• Ediacaran Perod (635 million years ago - 542 million years ago)

Phanerozoic Eon (542 million years ago - 0 million years ago)

Paleozoic Era (542 million years ago - 251 million years ago)

• Cambrian Period (542 million years ago - 488.3 million years ago)
• Ordovician Period (488.3 million years ago - 443.7 million years ago)
• Silurian Period (443.7 million years ago - 416 million years ago)
• Devonian Period ( 416 million years ago - 359.2 million years ago)
• Carboniferous Period (359.2 million years ago - 299 million years ago)
  • Pennsylvanian Epoch (359.2 million years ago - 318.1 million years ago)
  • Mississippian Epoch (318.1 million years ago - 299 million years ago)
• Permian Period (299 million years ago - 251 million years ago)

Mesozoic Era (251 million years ago - 65.5 million years ago)

• Triassic Period (251 million years ago - 199.6 million years ago)
• Jurassic Period (199.6 million years ago - 145.5 million years ago)
• Cretaceous Period (145.5 million years ago - 65.5 million years ago)

Cenozoic Era (65.5 million years ago - 0 million years ago)

• Paleogene Period  ( 65.5 million years ago - 23.03 million years ago)
  • Paleocene Epoch (65.5 million years ago - 55.8 million years ago)
    • Danian Sub Epoch (65.5 million years ago - 61.7 million years ago)
    • Selandian Sub Epoch (61.7 million years ago - 58.7 million years ago)
    • Thanetian Sub Epoch (58.7 million years ago - 55.8 million years ago)
  • Eocene Epoch (55.8 million years ago - 33.9 million years ago)
    • Ypresian Sub Epoch (55.8 million years ago - 48.6 million years ago)
    • Lutetian Sub Epoch (48.6 million years ago - 40.4 million years ago)
    • Bartonian Sub Epoch (40.4 million years ago - 37.2 million years ago)
    • Priabonian Sub Epoch (37.2 million years ago - 33.9 million years ago)
  • Oligocene Epoch (33.9 million years ago - 23.03 million years ago)
    • Rupelian Sub Epoch (33.9 million years ago - 28.4 million years ago)
    • Chattian Sub Epoch (28.4 million years ago - 23.03 million years ago)
• Neogene Period (23.03 million years ago - 2.588 million years ago)
  • Miocene Epoch (23.03 million years ago - 5.332 million years ago)
    • Aquitanian Sub Epoch (23.03 million years ago - 20.43 million years ago)
    • Burdigalian Sub Epoch (20.43 million years ago - 15.97 million years ago)
    • Langhian Sub Epoch (15.97 million years ago - 13.65 million years ago)
    • Serravallian Sub Epoch (13.65 million years ago - 11.608 million years ago)
    • Tortonian Sub Epoch (11.608 million years ago - 7.246 million years ago)
    • Messinian Sub Epoch (7.246 million years ago - 5.332 million years ago)
  • Pliocene Epoch (5.332 million years ago - 1.806 million years ago)
    • Zanclean Sub Epoch (5.332 million years ago - 3.6 million years ago)
    • Piacenzian Sub Epoch (3.6 million years ago - 2.588 million years ago)
• Quaternary Period (1.806 million years ago - 0 million years ago)
  • Pliocene/Pleistocene Epoch (2.588 million years ago - 1.806 million years ago)
    • Gelasian Sub Epoch (2.588 million years ago - 1.806 million years ago)**
  • Pleistocene Epoch (1.806 million years ago - 10 thousand years ago)
    • Early Pleistocene Sub Epoch (1.806 million years ago - 781 thousand years ago)
    • Middle Pleistocene Sub Epoch (781 thousand years ago - 126 thousand years ago)
    • Late Pleistocene Sub Epoch (126 thousand years ago - 10 thousand years ago)
  • Holocene Epoch (10 thousand years ago - 0 years ago)
    • Preboreal Sub Epoch (10 thousand years ago - 9 thousand years ago)
    • Boreal Sub Epoch (9 thousand years ago - 8 thousand years ago)
    • Atlantic Sub Epoch (8 thousand years ago - 5 thousand years ago)
    • Subboreal Sub Epoch (5 thousand years ago - 2.5 thousand years ago)
    • Subatlantic Sub Epoch (2.5 thousand years ago - 0 thousand years ago)

Notes

This list contains dates as listed on Wikipedia. Dates, names and classifications may vary from those listed here.

*The Hadean Eon, Archean Eon and Proterozoic Eons are informally classified together as the Precambrian Supereon.   

**The Gelasian Sub Epoch is currently being disputed over as to whther it should form part of the Pliocene Epoch or Pleistocene Epoch. In this list, the Gelasian Sub Epoch is classified as part of both the Pliocene and Pleistocene.