🖱️ Drag to rotate • Scroll to zoom • Click on a point to view content
🖱️ Drag to rotate • Scroll to zoom • Click on a point to view content
Available on desktop and VR devices
This interactive globe combines scientific data with an accessible and immersive experience, letting you explore prehistoric life across time and space.
⚠️ Note on location accuracy: While we use scientific databases and peer-reviewed models, some adjustments are made to ensure all points display correctly on the globe. The locations are approximate representations based on available fossil data and may not reflect exact prehistoric positions.
Each point on the globe represents a piece of prehistoric life content (video, image, or immersive experience). The locations show where fossils may have been found and are reconstructed back in time following these steps:
All positioning is based on peer-reviewed data: PBDB fossil database + Merdith et al. 2021 plate reconstruction model.
Points are only visible in the "Our Continents" view.
This view shows the outlines of today's continents repositioned to where they were located in the past. It helps you recognize familiar landmasses (Africa, South America, etc.) in their ancient positions.
Merdith et al. 2021 plate tectonic reconstruction, extending back to 1 billion years ago.
This view shows the actual emerged landmasses as they existed during each period — the real ancient coastlines based on geological evidence. Sea levels were different, so the shapes differ significantly from modern continents.
Cao et al. 2017 paleogeographic reconstruction — available from Permian (~280 Ma) to Neogene (~6 Ma).
Each point displays an icon based on its content type:
Icon highlights indicate special status:
Each period button shows the approximate midpoint of that geological era. The globe reconstruction uses the closest available data slice from Cao et al. (2017).
Data: Merdith et al. (2021), Cao et al. (2017), PBDB, GPlates Project