Gorstian

The Gorstian is a special time period in Earth's history. It is part of the Ludlow Epoch during the Silurian Period of the Paleozoic Era. This time began about 426.7 million years ago and ended around 425.0 million years ago.

The Gorstian came after the Homerian Age and was followed by the Ludfordian Age. This age got its name from a village called Gorsty, which is near the town of Ludlow. Scientists know when the Gorstian began by looking for a special type of fossil called Saetograptus (Colonograptus) varians.

The main place where scientists study rocks from this time is a quarry in Shropshire, United Kingdom. There, in the Elton Formation at Pitch Coppice, they find important clues about what Earth was like millions of years ago.