Cambrian

The Cambrian ( or ) is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from to million years ago (mya) and is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established (as “Cambrian series”) by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latinised form of Cymru, the Welsh name for Wales, where Britain's Cambrian rocks are best exposed. The Cambrian is unique in its unusually high proportion of lagerstätte sedimentary deposits. These are sites of exceptional preservation, where "soft" parts of organisms are preserved as well as their more resistant shells. This means that our understanding of the Cambrian biology surpasses that of some later periods.

Das Kambrium ist eine Epoche der Erdgeschichte, die etwa dem Zeitraum vor etwa bis Millionen Jahren entspricht. Während dieser Zeit entstanden in der sog. Kambrischen Explosion infolge veränderter Umweltbedingungen im Meer (u. a. erhöhter Sauerstoff-Anteil) fast alle heutigen Tierstämme.

Het geologisch tijdvak Cambrium (541 ± 1.0 - 485,4 ± 1,9 miljoen jaar (Ma) geleden) is het onderste systeem of de vroegste periode van het era Paleozoïcum. Het volgt op de periode Ediacarium en wordt gevolgd door het Ordovicium.

Le Cambrien, qui s'étend de à , est la première, et la plus ancienne, des six périodes géologiques du Paléozoïque.