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Humans have walked the Earth for 190,000 years, a mere blip in Earth's 4.5-billion-year history. Learn more about the planet's tumultuous past.
More About the Prehistoric World
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Prehistoric Time Line
National Geographic's interactive time line takes you on a 4.5-billion-year-old trip through Earth's history⎯from its Precambrian birth to the birth of Homo sapiens some 190,000 years ago.
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Photo Gallery: Jurassic Period
The Jurassic period ushered in a wealth of new dinosaurs⎯from the armored Stegosaurus to the meat-eater Allosaurus. Take a look at these Jurassic giants.
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Big Bad Bizarre Dinosaurs
A bizarre gallery of Mesozoic monsters prompts John Updike to ask: What has evolution wrought?
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Dinosaurs—Flesh and Bone
Step aside, bone diggers and fossil hunters, a new generation is using computer modeling and a better understanding of living animals to bring dinosaurs back to life—virtually.
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National Geographic Blogs
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NatGeo NewsWatch
Keep current on developments in science, nature, and cultures.
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Breaking Orbit
Join a discussion of all things extraterrestrial.
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BlogWild
National Geographic explorers share tales (and photos) of their adventures.
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Stones, Bones 'n Things
Go behind the scenes of new discoveries with National Geographic scientists.
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Ocean Now
Join underwater explorer Enric Sala as he explores untouched reefs.
Special Ad Section
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Sweepstakes
Enter to win a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, and spend a day with a National Geographic photographer!
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Enter Sweepstakes
See photos of Montana and enter for a chance to win a trip for two!