Prehistoric
Deep Time to 3000 BCE · 179 events
Geology (57)Biology (50)Evolution (34)Human Evolution (31)Culture (30)Technology (29)Astronomy (27)Climate (21)
All Prehistoric Events
The Big Bang: The Cosmological Event
13.82 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyPhysics/Cosmology
Cosmic Inflation
10^-35 seconds after the Big Bang · Prehistoric
AstronomyPhysics/Cosmology
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
20 minutes to 3 minutes after Big Bang · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomy
Cosmic Background Temperature Enters the Liquid Water Range
c. 13.81 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyPhysics/Cosmology
First Star formed
13.72 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyPhysics/Cosmology
Formation of Milky Way Galaxy
13.6 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyPhysics/Cosmology
Cosmic Gems Arc: Proto-Globular Star Clusters Form at Extreme Density
c. 13.36 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyPhysics/Cosmology
Formation of First Galaxies: Birth of Stellar Structures
c. 13.5-13.2 BYA · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomy
Formation of Globular Cluster HP 1 in the Milky Way Bulge
c. 12.8 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Astronomy
First Heavy Elements: Birth of Stellar Nucleosynthesis
c. 13.0-12.5 BYA · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomyChemistry
End of Cosmic Dark Ages: Universe Becomes Transparent
c. 12.7 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomy
Formation of the Kepler-444 Planetary System
c. 11.2 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Astronomy
Gaia-Enceladus Dwarf Galaxy Merges with the Milky Way
c. 10 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomy
Formation of the Local Group Begins
c. 7 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomy
Milky Way Star Formation Burst Recorded in Presolar Grains
c. 6.8 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Astronomy
Supernova Triggers Proto-Solar System Formation
c. 5 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomy
Formation of the Sun
4.6 billion years ago · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomyGeology
Formation of the Solar System
4.6 billion years ago · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyAstronomyGeology
Formation of Planet Earth
4.54 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Physics/CosmologyGeology
Moon-Forming Giant Impact
c. 4.5 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyGeologyClimate
Formation of Jupiter: Birth of the Solar System's Giant
c. 4.5 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyGeology
Formation of Mars: Birth of the Red Planet
c. 4.5 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyGeology
Earth's Hadean Ocean Condenses from Volcanic Outgassing
c. 4.41 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyClimate
Formation of Earth's Oldest Known Minerals
c. 4.4 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Geology
Delivery of Organic Compounds via Meteorites
c. 4.5-3.8 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyChemistryBiology
Late Heavy Bombardment
c. 4.0-3.8 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyChemistry
Peak of the Late Heavy Bombardment
c. 3.9 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyGeology
Synthesis of First Prebiotic RNA and DNA Building Blocks
c. 4.0-3.7 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Geology
Formation of Lunar Orientale Basin During Late Heavy Bombardment
c. 3.8 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
AstronomyGeology
Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt Formation
c. 3.77 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Geology
Isua Greenstone Belt Banded Iron Formation
c. 3.8-3.7 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyChemistryBiology
Earth's Core Dynamo Generates a Sustained Magnetic Field
c. 3.7 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyPhysics/Cosmology
Earliest Evidence of Life on Earth
3.5 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Microbial Mat Ecosystems Established
c. 3.5 BYA · Prehistoric
BiologyGeology
Dresser Formation Stromatolites Form
c. 3.48 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiology
Earliest Evidence of Terrestrial Life
c. 3.48 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiology
Apex Chert Microfossil Controversy
c. 3.46 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Strelley Pool Stromatolites Form
c. 3.43 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiology
Chemosynthetic Microfossils in Barberton Hydrothermal Veins
c. 3.42 BYA · Prehistoric
BiologyChemistry
Earliest Evidence of Anoxygenic Photosynthesis
c. 3.4 BYA · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Sulfur-Based Biosignatures Preserved in Archean Sediments
c. 3.2 BYA · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyChemistry
Earliest Evidence of Microbial Sulfur Metabolism
c. 3.2 BYA · Prehistoric
GeologyChemistryBiology
Onset of Plate Tectonics on Earth
c. 3.18 Billion years ago · Prehistoric
Geology
Emergence of Oxygenic Photosynthesis
c. 3.0-2.7 BYA · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Great Oxidation Event
2.4 Billion Years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyChemistryBiology
Great Oxidation Event Transforms Earth's Atmosphere
c. 2.3 BYA · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyChemistry
Huronian Glaciation: Earth's First Global Ice Age
c. 2.4-2.1 BYA · Prehistoric
GeologyClimateBiology
Francevillian Biota: Early Evidence of Macroscopic Organisms
c. 2.1 BYA · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Lomagundi Carbon Isotope Excursion
c. 2.2-2.0 BYA · Prehistoric
GeologyBiology
Endosymbiotic Acquisition of Mitochondria
c. 2 billion years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Emergence of Eukaryotic Cells
c. 1.8-1.6 BYA · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Bangiomorpha pubescens: Earliest Confirmed Eukaryotic Algae
c. 1.2 BYA · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Rodinia Supercontinent Formation
c. 1.1 BYA · Prehistoric
Geology
Grenvillian Orogeny
c. 1.1-1.0 BYA · Prehistoric
Geology
Rodinia Supercontinent Breakup Begins
c. 750 MYA · Prehistoric
Geology
Snowball Earth Episodes: Global Glaciations
c. 720-635 MYA · Prehistoric
GeologyClimateBiology
Evolution of Collagen and Structural Proteins
c. 600 MYA · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Doushantuo Formation Microfossils: Evidence of Early Animal Embryos
c. 600-550 MYA · Prehistoric
Evolution
Doushantuo Fossils Reveal Cell Differentiation and Signaling
c. 600 MYA · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Ediacaran Biota Emerges: First Complex Multicellular Organisms
c. 575 MYA · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Cambrian Explosion
538.8 million years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Late Ordovician Glaciation and Mass Extinction
c. 445 Million years ago · Prehistoric
ClimateBiologyGeology
Caledonian Orogeny
c. 490-390 MYA · Prehistoric
Geology
Closure of the Rheic Ocean
c. 340 MYA · Prehistoric
Geology
Formation of Pangaea
335 million years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyEvolution
Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse
c. 305 Million years ago · Prehistoric
ClimateBiologyEvolution
Mesozoic Era
252 Million years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Permian-Triassic Extinction: The End-Permian Die-Off
c. 252 MYA · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolutionGeology
Early Triassic Period
251 Million years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Herrerasaurus: Triassic Theropod Predator
c. 231 million years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
First Mammaliaforms Emerge
225 Million years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Late Triassic Period
225 Million years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Jurassic Period
201-145 Million years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Late Jurassic Period
163.5-145 Million years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Stegosaurus Evolution
150 Million years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Cretaceous Period
145 Million years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Late Cretaceous Period
125 Million years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolution
Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 Triggers the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum
c. 93.9 Million years ago · Prehistoric
ClimateGeologyBiology
Formation of the Caribbean Volcanic Arc
c. 80 MYA · Prehistoric
Geology
Laramidia Emerges as Island Continent
c. 80 MYA · Prehistoric
GeologyEvolution
T-Rex lived
68 Million years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Chicxulub Impact: Mass Extinction
66 Million years ago · Prehistoric
GeologyBiologyEvolution
Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
c. 56 MYA · Prehistoric
ClimateBiologyGeology
India-Eurasia Collision Begins Closing the Neo-Tethys Ocean
c. 50 MYA · Prehistoric
GeologyClimate
Arctic Azolla Bloom Draws Down Atmospheric CO2
c. 49 MYA · Prehistoric
ClimateBiologyGeology
Drake Passage Opens
c. 34 MYA · Prehistoric
GeologyClimate
Oligocene Epoch begins
33.9 million to 23 million years ago · Prehistoric
Geology
Miocene Grassland Ecosystems Spread Across Continents
c. 25-20 MYA · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolutionClimate
Mediterranean Desiccates During the Messinian Salinity Crisis
c. 5.96 MYA · Prehistoric
ClimateGeology
Ardipithecus ramidus Fossils Recovered at Aramis
1992-1994 (species dated 4.4 million years ago) · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Laetoli Hominin Footprint Trails Excavated
1976-1978 (footprints dated 3.66 million years ago) · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Homo habilis Classification
2.3 million years ago · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolutionHuman Evolution
Australopithecus sediba Discovered at Malapa
August 15, 2008 · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Olduvai Gorge: Earliest Stone Tool Technology
c. 2.0-1.7 million BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionTechnology
Emergence of Acheulean Hand Axe Technology
c. 1.76 million BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionTechnology
Homo erectus: First Migration Out of Africa
c. 1.8-1.7 million BCE · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolutionHuman Evolution
Earliest Evidence of Hominin Fire Use at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov
780,000 years ago · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionTechnologyChemistry
Trinil Shell Engravings by Homo erectus
c. 540,000-430,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionTechnologyLanguage
Schöningen Spears: Earliest Wooden Hunting Weapons
c. 400,000-380,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionTechnologyWar
Bilzingsleben Bone Engravings: Organized Symbolic Markings
c. 370,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionLanguage
Oldest Homo Sapiens Fossils
315,000 years ago · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Homo naledi Discovered in Rising Star Cave
2013-2015 (species dated 335,000-236,000 years ago) · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Berekhat Ram Figurine: Earliest Anthropomorphic Carving
c. 280,000-250,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionArt
Qafzeh Cave: Early Symbolic Ochre Use
c. 100,000-90,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionReligion
Denny: First-Generation Neanderthal-Denisovan Hybrid
c. 90,000 BCE · Prehistoric
BiologyHuman Evolution
Homo floresiensis Unearthed at Liang Bua Cave
2003 (species dated 100,000-50,000 years ago) · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Toba Supervolcano Eruption Triggers Global Volcanic Winter
c. 74,000 BCE · Prehistoric
ClimateGeologyHuman Evolution
Symbolic Marking Tradition at Blombos Cave
c. 75,000 years ago · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionLanguageArt
Earliest Abstract Engravings at Blombos Cave
c. 70,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionArtLanguage
Neanderthal Cave Art in Spain
c. 65,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionArt
Madjedbebe Rock Shelter Dated to c. 65,000 BCE
c. 65,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Neanderthal Burial at La Chapelle-aux-Saints
60,000 years ago · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionCulture
First Musical Instruments: Aurignacian Bone Flutes
c. 43,000-40,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionArtReligion
Denisovan DNA Discovered in Modern Human Populations
c. 50,000-30,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Lion Man of Hohlenstein-Stadel: Earliest Figurative Sculpture
c. 40,000-35,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionArtReligion
Chauvet Cave Art Created
35 Thousand years ago · Prehistoric
Art
Lebombo Bone: Oldest Known Mathematical Artifact
c. 35,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Mathematics
Sungir Burial Site, Russia
32,050 to 28,550 BC · Prehistoric
CultureReligion
Upper Paleolithic Proto-Writing System in European Cave Art
c. 20,000 BCE · Prehistoric
ArtCultureLanguage
Divergence of Dogs from Wolf Populations
c. 23,000-15,000 years ago · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionBiology
Solutrean Atlatl at Combe Sauniere
c. 17,500 BCE · Prehistoric
Human EvolutionTechnology
Ishango Bone Records Early Mathematical Notations
c. 20,000-18,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Technology
Earliest Migration Across Beringia
16,500 BCE · Prehistoric
EngineeringHuman Evolution
First Jōmon Pottery Emerges in Japan
14500 BC · Prehistoric
TechnologyArt
Opening of the Ice-Free Corridor
c. 14000 BCE · Prehistoric
ClimateExploration
Younger Dryas Period Begins
12,900 to 11,700 years ago · Prehistoric
Climate
Clovis Culture
11,500 BCE · Prehistoric
TechnologyCulture
Tell Abu Hureyra Neolithic Settlement
c. 11,500-7,000 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureCultureClimate
Earliest Known Rye Cultivation at Tell Abu Hureyra
c. 11,000 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureClimateHuman Evolution
The Agricultural Revolution
10,000 BC · Prehistoric
BiologyEvolutionTechnology
Leanderthal Lady
10,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Human Evolution
Early Walled Settlement at Jericho
c. 9600-8000 BCE · Prehistoric
CultureAgricultureEconomics
Göbekli Tepe Megalithic Complex
c. 9600-8200 BCE · Prehistoric
CultureReligionEngineering
African Humid Period: The Green Sahara
c. 9000 BCE · Prehistoric
ClimateAgriculture
Las Vegas Culture Emerges in Ecuador
8000 BC · Prehistoric
Culture
Early Copper Metallurgy at Gre Fılla
c. 8000 BCE · Prehistoric
TechnologyEngineeringEconomics
Warren Field Mesolithic Lunar Calendar
c. 8000 BCE · Prehistoric
AstronomyCultureTechnology
Domestication of Sweet Potato in Peru
c. 8000 BCE · Prehistoric
Agriculture
First Clay Token Accounting System
c. 8000-7500 BCE · Prehistoric
TechnologyLanguageMathematics
Jericho PPNB Plastered Skulls
c. 7500 BCE · Prehistoric
CultureTechnology
Çatalhöyük: Neolithic Settlement
c. 7500-5600 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureEconomics
Rice Domestication in the Yangtze Delta
c. 7000 BCE · Prehistoric
Agriculture
Mehrgarh Neolithic Settlement
c. 7000-5500 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureTechnologyCulture
Jiahu Bone Flutes Excavated at Henan Site
c. 7000 BCE · Prehistoric
ArtCultureTechnology
Domestication of Teosinte into Maize
c. 7000 BCE · Prehistoric
Agriculture
'Ain Ghazal Statues: Neolithic Plaster Figurines
c. 6750-6500 BCE · Prehistoric
ArtCultureReligion
Jiahu Symbols: Early Chinese Markings on Tortoise Shells
c. 6600 BCE · Prehistoric
LanguageCulture
Halaf Pottery Innovation
c. 6500-5500 BCE · Prehistoric
ArtTechnologyCulture
First Pottery Kilns at Tell Hassuna
c. 6300-6000 BCE · Prehistoric
TechnologyCultureEngineering
Dufuna Dugout Canoe Creation
c. 6500-6000 BCE · Prehistoric
TechnologyCultureEngineering
Ubaid Irrigation Canals Transform Southern Mesopotamia
c. 5500 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureTechnologyEconomics
Dispilio Wooden Tablet: Enigmatic Neolithic Markings
c. 5260 BCE · Prehistoric
LanguagePolitics
Sumerian Civilization Emerges
-5000 · Prehistoric
AgricultureEconomics
Vinča Symbols: Proto-Writing in Neolithic Balkans
c. 5500-4500 BCE · Prehistoric
CultureLanguage
Yangshao Millet Agricultural Revolution
c. 5000-3000 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureClimateCulture
First Copper Smelting at Belovode
c. 5000 BCE · Prehistoric
TechnologyCultureEngineering
Oldest Known Winery Established
4100 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureEconomics
Emergence of Uruk: Early Mesopotamian Metropolis
c. 4000 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureEconomicsReligion
Potter's Wheel Invented
3600 BC · Prehistoric
Technology
Ancient Plow Invented
3500 BC · Prehistoric
TechnologyAgriculture
Norte Chico Civilization Founded
3,500 BCE · Prehistoric
AgricultureEconomics
Egyptian Blue Pigment Synthesized in Ancient Egypt
c. 3500 BCE · Prehistoric
ChemistryArtTechnology
End of the Green Sahara: North African Desertification
c. 3500 BCE · Prehistoric
ClimateCulture
Discovery of First Clay Tablets with Proto-Writing
3500-3300 BCE · Prehistoric
TechnologyCultureLanguage
Development of Clay Bullae Envelope Accounting
c. 3500-3300 BCE · Prehistoric
MathematicsTechnologyLanguage
Bronze Age Begins
3300 BC · Prehistoric
War
Development of Proto-Cuneiform Writing in Uruk
c. 3400-3200 BCE · Prehistoric
CultureLanguage
Earliest Egyptian Hieroglyphic Writing
c. 3250-3200 BCE · Prehistoric
TechnologyCultureLanguage
Cuneiform Writing System Developed
3200 BC · Prehistoric
CultureLanguage
Norte Chico Civilization
3200 BC · Prehistoric
Culture
Skara Brae Neolithic Settlement
3180 BC · Prehistoric
Engineering
First Dynasty of Egypt
3150 BC · Prehistoric
CulturePolitics
Maya Long Count Calendar Epoch
August 11, 3114 BCE · Prehistoric
AstronomyMathematicsReligion
Beginning of Kali Yuga
3102 BCE · Prehistoric
ReligionCultureAstronomy
Emergence of Susa III Proto-Elamite Civilization
3100 · Prehistoric
Culture
Newgrange
3100 BC · Prehistoric
Engineering
Stonehenge Construction Begins
3100 BC · Prehistoric
Engineering
Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt
3100 BC · Prehistoric
PoliticsEconomicsReligion
Egyptian 365-Day Civil Calendar
c. 3100 BCE · Prehistoric
MathematicsAstronomyCulture