An astronomical time scale is presented for the late Miocene based on the correlation of characteristic sedimentary cycle
patterns in marine sections in the Mediterranean to the 65”N summer insolation curve of La90 [ 1,2] with present-day values
for the dynamical ellipticity of the Earth and tidd dissipation by the moon. This correlation yields ages for all sedimentary
cycles and hence also for the recorded polarity reversals, and planktonic foraminiferal and dinoflagellate events. The
Tortonian/Messinian (T/M) boundary placed at the first regular occurrence of the Globorofuliu conomiozea group in the
Mediterranean is dated at 7.24 Ma. The duration of the Messinian is estimated at 1.91 Myr because the Miocene/Pliocene
boundary has been dated previously at 5.33 Ma [3]. The new time scale is confirmed by “OAr/ 3gAr ages of volcanic beds and
by the number of sedimentary cycles in the younger part of the Mediterranean Messinian
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