Part of a series of articles titled Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils.
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Article • Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils
Cenozoic Era
Introduction
The Cenozoic Era is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths.
The Pleistocene Ice Ages began about 2.6 MYA. Some caves preserve the remains of ice age animals that died in them or were transported there after death. The "Age of Mammals" also includes humans—the earliest known evidence of Homo sapiens in the fossil record is from 300,000 years ago.
Cenozoic Resources
The Cenozoic Era is further divided into three Periods: the Paleogene, the Neogene, and the Quaternary. A few examples of NPS resources in each time Period are highlighted below.
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- Sites: Geologic Resources Division, Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, Bandelier National Monument, Big Bend National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, more »
Massive ice sheets advanced and retreated across North America during much of the Quaternary, carving landscapes in many parks. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve contains geologic evidence of lower sea level during glacial periods, facilitating the prehistoric peopling of the Americas. The youngest rocks in the NPS include the lava of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the travertine at Yellowstone National Park, which can be just a few hours old.
- Sites: Geologic Resources Division, Big Bend National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Colonial National Historical Park, Death Valley National Park, more »
Some of the finest Neogene fossils on the planet are found in the rocks of Agate Fossil Beds and Hagerman Fossil Beds national monuments.
- Sites: Geologic Resources Division, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Badlands National Park, Big Bend National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, more »
Colorful Paleogene rocks are exposed in the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park and the badlands of Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt national parks. Extraordinary Paleogene fossils are found in Fossil Butte and John Day Fossil Beds national monuments, among other parks.
Cenozoic “Age of Mammals” Coloring Pages
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Photo Gallery
Cenozoic Era—Prehistoric Life ...
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Individual coloring book pages for the Cenozoic Era. Also available in the "Prehistoric Life in the National Parks Coloring Book".
Visit—Cenozoic Parks
Every park contains some slice of geologic time. Here we highlight a few parks associated with Cenozoic Era. This is not to say that a particular park has only rocks from the specified period. Rather, rocks in selected parks exemplify a certain event or preserve fossils or rocks from a certain geologic age.
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Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (AGFO), Nebraska—[AGFO Geodiversity Atlas] [AGFO Park Home] [AGFO npshistory.com]
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Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve (ANIA), Alaska—[ANIA Geodiversity Atlas] [ANIA Park Home] [ANIA npshistory.com]
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Badlands National Park (BADL), South Dakota—[BADL Geodiversity Atlas] [BADL Park Home] [BADL npshistory.com]
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Bandelier National Monument (BAND), New Mexico—[BAND Geodiversity Atlas] [BAND Park Home] [BAND npshistory.com]
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Big Bend National Park (BIBE), Texas—[BIBE Geodiversity Atlas] [BIBE Park Home] [BIBE npshistory.com]
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Bryce Canyon National Park (BRCA), Utah—[BRCA Geodiversity Atlas] [BRCA Park Home] [BRCA npshistory.com]
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Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CAVE), New Mexico—[CAVE Geodiversity Atlas] [CAVE Park Home] [CAVE npshistory.com]
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Capulin Volcano National Monument (CAVO), New Mexico—[CAVO Geodiversity Atlas] [CAVO Park Home] [CAVO npshistory.com]
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Cedar Breaks National Monument (CEBR), Utah—[CEBR Geodiversity Atlas] [CEBR Park Home] [CEBR npshistory.com]
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Chiricahua National Monument (CHIR), Arizona—[CHIR Geodiversity Atlas] [CHIR Park Home] [CHIR npshistory.com]
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Channel Islands National Park (CHIS), California—[CHIS Geodiversity Atlas] [CHIS Park Home] [CHIS npshistory.com]
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City of Rocks National Reserve (CIRO), Idaho—[CIRO Geodiversity Atlas] [CIRO Park Home] [CIRO npshistory.com]
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Colonial National Historic Park (COLO), Virginia—[COLO Geodiversity Atlas] [COLO Park Home] [COLO npshistory.com]
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Crater Lake National Park (CRLA), Oregon—[CRLA Geodiversity Atlas] [CRLA Park Home] [CRLA npshistory.com]
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Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve (CRMO), Idaho—[CRMO Geodiversity Atlas] [CRMO Park Home] [CRMO npshistory.com]
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Death Valley National Park, California (DEVA), Nevada—[DEVA Geodiversity Atlas] [DEVA Park Home] [DEVA npshistory.com]
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Devils Postpile National Monument (DEPO), California—[DEPO Geodiversity Atlas] [DEPO Park Home] [DEPO npshistory.com]
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Devils Tower National Monument (DETO), Wyoming—[DETO Geodiversity Atlas] [DETO Park Home] [DETO npshistory.com]
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El Malpais National Monument (ELMA), New Mexico—[ELMA Geodiversity Atlas] [ELMA Park Home] [ELMA npshistory.com]
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Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (FLFO), Colorado—[FLFO Geodiversity Atlas] [FLFO Park Home] [FLFO npshistory.com]
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Fossil Butte National Monument (FOBU), Wyoming—[FOBU Geodiversity Atlas] [FOBU Park Home] [FOBU npshistory.com]
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GLCA), Arizona & Utah—[GLCA Geodiversity Atlas] [GLCA Park Home] [GLCA npshistory.com]
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Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA), Arizona—[GRCA Geodiversity Atlas] [GRCA Park Home] [GRCA npshistory.com]
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Guadalupe Mountains National Park (GUMO), Texas—[GUMO Geodiversity Atlas] [GUMO Park Home] [GUMO npshistory.com]
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Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (HAFO), Idaho—[HAFO Geodiversity Atlas] [HAFO Park Home] [HAFO npshistory.com]
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Haleakala National Park (HALE), Hawaii—[HALE Geodiversity Atlas] [HALE Park Home] [HALE npshistory.com]
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HAVO), Hawaii—[HAVO Geodiversity Atlas] [HAVO Park Home] [HAVO npshistory.com]
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John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (JODA), Oregon—[JODA Geodiversity Atlas] [JODA Park Home] [JODA npshistory.com]
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Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR), California—[JOTR Geodiversity Atlas] [JOTR Park Home] [JOTR npshistory.com]
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Katmai National Park (KATM), Alaska—[KATM Geodiversity Atlas] [KATM Park Home] [KATM npshistory.com]
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Lake Clark National Park (LACL), Alaska—[LACL Geodiversity Atlas] [LACL Park Home] [LACL npshistory.com]
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Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAKE), Nevada and Arizona—[LAKE Geodiversity Atlas] [LAKE Park Home] [LAKE npshistory.com]
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Lassen Volcanic National Park (LAVO), California—[LAVO Geodiversity Atlas] [LAVO Park Home] [LAVO npshistory.com]
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Lava Beds National Monument (LABE), California—[LABE Geodiversity Atlas] [LABE Park Home] [LABE npshistory.com]
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Mojave National Preserve (MOJA), California—[MOJA Geodiversity Atlas] [MOJA Park Home] [MOJA npshistory.com]
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Mount Rainier National Park (MORA), Washington—[MORA Geodiversity Atlas] [MORA Park Home] [MORA npshistory.com]
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Niobrara National Scenic River, Nebraska—[NIOB Geodiversity Atlas] [NIOB Park Home] [NIOB npshistory.com]
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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI), Arizona—[ORPI Geodiversity Atlas] [ORPI Park Home] [ORPI npshistory.com]
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Pinnacles National Monument (PINN), California—[PINN Geodiversity Atlas] [PINN Park Home] [PINN npshistory.com]
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Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site (PUHE), Hawai'i—[PUHE Geodiversity Atlas] [PUHE Park Home] [PUHE npshistory.com]
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SAMO), California—[SAMO Geodiversity Atlas] [SAMO Park Home] [SAMO npshistory.com]
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Scotts Bluff National Monument (SCBL), Nebraska—[SCBL Geodiversity Atlas] [SCBL Park Home] [SCBL npshistory.com]
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Sunset Crater National Monument (SUCR), Arizona—[SUCR Geodiversity Atlas] [SUCR Park Home] [SUCR npshistory.com]
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Theodore Roosevelt National Park (THRO), North Dakota—[THRO Geodiversity Atlas] [THRO Park Home] [THRO npshistory.com]
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Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK), Nevada—[TUSK Geodiversity Atlas] [TUSK Park Home] [TUSK npshistory.com]
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Valley Forge National Historical Site (VAFO), Pennsylvania—[VAFO Geodiversity Atlas] [VAFO Park Home] [VAFO npshistory.com]
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Valles Caldera National Preserve (VALL), New Mexico—[VALL Geodiversity Atlas] [VALL Park Home] [VALL npshistory.com]
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Vicksburg National Military Park (VICK), Mississippi—[VICK Geodiversity Atlas] [VICK Park Home] [VICK npshistory.com]
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Waco Mammoth National Monument (WACO), Texas—[WACO Geodiversity Atlas] [WACO Park Home] [WACO npshistory.com]
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Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana (YELL), Wyoming—[YELL Geodiversity Atlas] [YELL Park Home] [YELL npshistory.com]
Featured Articles
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t's hard to imagine what our lands looked like long before they were national parks. Take a trip all the way back to the Cenozoic era with these now and then photos.
- Geologic Resources Division
Fossils of the 2019 National Fossil Day Artwork
The giant ground sloth graphic is the official National Fossil Day 2019 artwork. It can be used to promote National Fossil Day 2019 activities and events and includes the date October 16, 2019.
- Geologic Resources Division
Fossils of the 2016 National Fossil Day Artwork
The 2016 artwork features three iconic Pleistocene ("ice age") animals from the United States—saber-toothed cat, long-horned bison, and a condor flying above. The landscape is an idealized representation of southern Nevada within what is now Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument...
- Geologic Resources Division
Fossils of the 2015 National Fossil Day Artwork
The 2015 National Fossil Day artwork features an enigmatic prehistoric mammal known as a chalicothere (derived from Greek words meaning "gravel beast"), a large herbivore, depicted in a Miocene prairie grassland. The scene is an idealized representation of Cenozoic Era life and landscapes...
- Geologic Resources Division
Fossils of the 2012 National Fossil Day Artwork
The "mammoth" graphic is the official National Fossil Day 2012 artwork.
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Tags
- agate fossil beds national monument
- aniakchak national monument & preserve
- badlands national park
- bandelier national monument
- big bend national park
- bryce canyon national park
- capulin volcano national monument
- carlsbad caverns national park
- cedar breaks national monument
- channel islands national park
- chiricahua national monument
- city of rocks national reserve
- colonial national historical park
- crater lake national park
- craters of the moon national monument & preserve
- death valley national park
- devils postpile national monument
- devils tower national monument
- el malpais national monument
- florissant fossil beds national monument
- fossil butte national monument
- glen canyon national recreation area
- grand canyon national park
- guadalupe mountains national park
- hagerman fossil beds national monument
- haleakalā national park
- hawaiʻi volcanoes national park
- john day fossil beds national monument
- katmai national park & preserve
- knife river indian villages national historic site
- lake clark national park & preserve
- lake mead national recreation area
- lassen volcanic national park
- lava beds national monument
- mojave national preserve
- mount rainier national park
- niobrara national scenic river
- organ pipe cactus national monument
- pinnacles national park
- puʻukoholā heiau national historic site
- santa monica mountains national recreation area
- scotts bluff national monument
- sunset crater volcano national monument
- theodore roosevelt national park
- tule springs fossil beds national monument
- valles caldera national preserve
- valley forge national historical park
- vicksburg national military park
- waco mammoth national monument
- yellowstone national park
- fossils
- paleontology
- geology
- geologic time
Last updated: July 9, 2024