A method, performed by one or more processors, the method comprising: receiving timestamp data representing transaction start times of each of a plurality of database transactions; dividing the timestamp data into a plurality of partitioning quanta (nPQ), each partitioning quantum (PQ) of the plurality of partitioning quanta representing a range of sequential start timestamps; and for each partitioning quantum (PQ) of the plurality of partitioning quanta (nPQ), allocating the timestamp data, such that sequentially adjacent start timestamps are allocated to different partitions of one or more physical storage systems for subsequent storage at the allocated partitions, wherein the different partitions are physically distinct partitions on a hard drive or solid state memory or physically different memory devices; storing values representing the timestamp data, or data associated with the timestamp data, in the allocated partitions of the one or more physical storage systems, wherein the allocating comprises generating a data structure for each partitioning quantum (PQ) comprising N rows and M columns, each of the N rows corresponding to a respective one of the partitions (NP) and each of the M columns corresponding to a subset range of timestamps within each partitioning quantum (PQ), each of the N rows and M columns having respective row and column keys to enable access to the timestamp data; receiving a range scan query corresponding to a range of the timestamp data; locating relevant PQs from the plurality of partitioning quanta (nPQ) for the range of the timestamp data; for each PQ of the relevant PQs, loading all relevant columns across all NP rows by determining column keys for the one or more PQs, wherein the column keys correspond to the range of the timestamp data; and obtaining the timestamp data, or the data derived from the timestamp data, from the column keys. receiving timestamp data representing transaction start times of each of a plurality of database transactions; dividing the timestamp data into a plurality of partitioning quanta (nPQ), each partitioning quantum (PQ) of the plurality of partitioning quanta representing a range of sequential start timestamps; and for each partitioning quantum (PQ) of the plurality of partitioning quanta (nPQ), allocating the timestamp data, such that sequentially adjacent start timestamps are allocated to different partitions of one or more physical storage systems for subsequent storage at the allocated partitions, wherein the different partitions are physically distinct partitions on a hard drive or solid state memory or physically different memory devices; storing values representing the timestamp data, or data associated with the timestamp data, in the allocated partitions of the one or more physical storage systems, wherein the allocating comprises generating a data structure for each partitioning quantum (PQ) comprising N rows and M columns, each of the N rows corresponding to a respective one of the partitions (NP) and each of the M columns corresponding to a subset range of timestamps within each partitioning quantum (PQ), each of the N rows and M columns having respective row and column keys to enable access to the timestamp data; receiving a range scan query corresponding to a range of the timestamp data; locating relevant PQs from the plurality of partitioning quanta (nPQ) for the range of the timestamp data; for each PQ of the relevant PQs, loading all relevant columns across all NP rows by determining column keys for the one or more PQs, wherein the column keys correspond to the range of the timestamp data; and obtaining the timestamp data, or the data derived from the timestamp data, from the column keys. <EOS>