Age of Abandonment

The Age of Abandonment is one of the first periods in Covenant history.

It is speculated that the Age of Abandonment was the period of time when the Forerunners activated the Halo Array, or, as the Covenant put it, "Embarked on the Great Journey". The Covenant believes that the Forerunners underwent the Great Journey, but in fact they disappeared from the universe because they activated the Seven Halos in order to contain the recent Flood infection, thereby killing themselves and all sentient life in the galaxy. This event happened about 100,000 years prior to 2552, before other races (Humans etc.) had evolved sufficiently to become sentient.

Progression of the Ages
During the Progression of the Ages, an appropriate dialogue is as followed:

Leader, or Chieftain: Abandonment. Congregation, or Pack: ''The First Age! Ignorance and fear!''

Representation
The Age of Abandonment is represented by an Obsidian stone.