The term 'TIMES BEFORE THE PRESENT' is often used in the field of geology to refer to the amount of time that has passed since a particular event occurred. The crossword solution for this term is 'EVES, ' which is an acronym for 'Estimated Varve Extent Scale.' This scale is used to measure the amount of time that has passed since a particular event, such as the formation of a sedimentary rock layer or the eruption of a volcano.