Time-resolved x-ray absorption experiments have been performed on shocked tantalum. Using a single 100 ps synchrotron x-ray pulse, nanosecond-lived equilibrium states of shocked solid Ta have been measured by L-3-edge absorption spectroscopy. The energy shift and intensity change of the white line were measured up to 130 GPa and 2000 K. The experimental results are discussed in light of density functional theory calculations and FEFF simulations. The absence of occurrence of the hcp-omega phase is suggested from the analysis of the shape of the white line.