A stage in the Early Permian epoch, preceded by the Asselian, followed by the Artinskian, and dated at 294.6–284.4 Ma ago (Int. Commission on Stratigraphy, 2004). Originally it was regarded as the basal Permian age, incorporating the Asselian age, from which it is now separated. It is roughly contemporaneous with parts of the Rotliegendes (western Europe), the upper Wolfcampian (N. America), and the upper Somoholoan (New Zealand).