Givetian
The Givetian Age/Stage within the Middle Devonian (ICS 2026/06); about 387.95–382.31 Ma.
Language and route: French locality-name → European geological usage → English. French locality-name → European geological usage → English. Name-source: Givet, a town in the French Ardennes near the Belgian border.
Literal gloss: named after Givet, a town in the French Ardennes near the Belgian border
The name and its history
Common historical attribution to J.-J. d’Omalius d’Halloy, nineteenth century; 1862 appears in secondary tables · Common historical attribution to J.-J. d’Omalius d’Halloy, nineteenth century; 1862 appears in secondary tables
- What does the word literally mean?
- Named from Givet, a town in the French Ardennes near the Belgian border.
- What did the original author mean?
- A fossil-rich carbonate succession in the vicinity of Givet, distinguished within the historic Middle Devonian of the Ardennes.
- Why was the name needed?
- A recognisable middle Devonian subdivision was needed to map marine facies and faunal assemblages across the Franco-Belgian border zone.
- What evidence supported the original concept?
- Originally limestone and associated macrofaunas; the modern basal GSSP at Jebel Mech Irdane, Morocco, uses the conodont Polygnathus hemiansatus.
- How has geology changed the concept?
- A French locality-based unit became a worldwide stage with its defining boundary in Morocco: the original Givet limestone packages are not themselves a global chronometer.
Further historical context
*Original use.* A fossil-rich carbonate succession in the vicinity of Givet, distinguished within the historic Middle Devonian of the Ardennes.
*Historical problem.* A recognisable middle Devonian subdivision was needed to map marine facies and faunal assemblages across the Franco-Belgian border zone.
*Evolution.* A French locality-based unit became a worldwide stage with its defining boundary in Morocco: the original Givet limestone packages are not themselves a global chronometer.
Editorial qualification
The 1862 first-publication attribution is secondary, not checked directly against d’Omalius d’Halloy’s original passage.
Related names
Devonian · Middle Devonian · Eifelian · Fossil · Facies
Sources
- ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart, 2026/06 — Current nomenclature, rank and numerical age
- ICS official Givetian GSSP — International boundary stratotype and correlation evidence
- Belgian National Commission on Stratigraphy, origin of Givetian — Historical naming, original claim or scholarly review; see confidence note
- Published historical table of Givetian attribution — Historical naming, original claim or scholarly review; see confidence note
- ICS Devonian Subcommission, full sequence — Cross-check order and stage nomenclature