At the point of data aggregation and use, controlled vocabularies facilitate many of the familiar benefits of FAIR data. At a local level, they also make digitization and data entry easier and more efficient for collections staff. Here we present results from a collaboration between members of the Paleo Data Working Group (PDWG, https://paleo-data.github.io) and staff at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to develop and implement a controlled vocabulary for chronostratigraphy, i.e. the naming system for ages of geologic strata in relation to time. The International Commission on Stratigraphy maintains an authoritative chart (https://stratigraphy.org/chart) with this information, and the Darwin Core standard has the GeologicalContext class of terms (https://dwc.tdwg.org/terms/#geologicalcontext) designed to share this information. Given this, it might seem simple to develop and implement a controlled vocabulary for the GBIF community. However, initial examinations of the data show it is more complex. We discuss our process, including decisions made regarding authoritative sources for controlled vocabulary terms, and challenges mapping verbatim values from data providers to those terms. Looking ahead, we outline the need for a richer information storage and retrieval system for chronostratigraphy.

Slides from a talk presented at SPNHC TDWG 2024, the jointly held annual conference of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) and Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG). Presented in person in Ginowan, Japan on 5 September 2024 by Erica Krimmel.