The term Neolithic Period refers to the last stage of the Stone Age - a term coined in the late 19th century CE by scholars which covers three different periods: Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. The Neolithic period is significant for its megalithic architecture, the spread of agricultural practices, and the use of polished stone tools.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 20000 BCECave painting flourishes in Spain and France, the most famous being the Cave of Lascaux in France.
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c. 11700 BCEEnd of the most recent glacial episode within the current Quaternary Ice Age.
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10000 BCEBeginnings of agriculture in the Middle East.
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9000 BCECultivation of wild cereals in the Fertile Crescent.
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9000 BCEWild sheep flocks are managed in the Zagros mountains.
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8000 BCEOvens in use in the Near East are applied to pottery production.
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7700 BCEFirst domesticated wheats in the Fertile Crescent.
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7500 BCELong-distance trade in obsidian begins.
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7000 BCEDomestication of goats.
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7000 BCE - 2500 BCENeolithic and Chalcolithic periods on Cyprus.
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6700 BCEDomestication of sheep.
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6500 BCEDomestication of pigs.
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6500 BCETextiles of flax.
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c. 6200 BCEFirst copper smelting in Anatolia.
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c. 6000 BCEFirst irrigation.
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6000 BCEDomestication of cattle.
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c. 6000 BCEFirst fortified settlement at Ugarit.
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5000 BCEIrrigation and agriculture begin in earnest in Mesopotamia.
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5000 BCEHierarchical societies emerge in southeast Europe.
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5000 BCE - 3000 BCEMegalithic structures erected at Carnac, north-west France.
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5000 BCE - 4000 BCEMegaliths are erected at the Neolithic site of Locmariaquer, north-west France.
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c. 4800 BCENeolithic village of Banpo in China built.
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4500 BCEInvention of the plow.
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c. 4500 BCE - c. 3750 BCEThe Neolithic village of Banpo is inhabited.
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4300 BCEFirst megalithic tombs in Europe.
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4100 BCE - 2900 BCEUruk Period in Mesopotamia. First cities.
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4000 BCEUse of wool for textiles.
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4000 BCE - 3500 BCEClyde Tombs of Western Scotland and the Carlingford Tombs of Northern Ireland are constructed.
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4000 BCEMedway Tombs of Kent, including Chesnuts, Addington and Coldrum, are constructed.
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3807 BCE - 3806 BCEThe Sweet Track, a Neolithic wooden pathway, is constructed in Somerset, Britain.
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c. 3700 BCE - c. 2800 BCENeolithic farmstead the Knap of Howar inhabited on Papa Westray, Orkney.
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3500 BCECotswold-Severn Group Long Barrows are constructed, which spanned from the north Wessex Downs, Cotswold Hills, South Wales coast, and the Brecon Beacons.
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c. 3300 BCE - 2600 BCENeolithic site of Barnhouse Settlement occupied.
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c. 3300 BCE - 2600 BCEThe Barnhouse Settlement constructed and inhabited.
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c. 3100 BCENeolithic village of Skara Brae inhabited.
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3100 BCENeolithic Village of Skara Brae inhabited, stone walls built.
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c. 3100 BCEStonehenge Phase I - earthen henge dug on the site.
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c. 3000 BCEAegina inhabited during Neolithic period.
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c. 3000 BCE - c. 2800 BCEThe Neolithic chambered cairn known as Maeshowe constructed and in use.
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c. 3000 BCEStonehenge Phase II - Digging of the Aubrey Holes, which probably contained wooden posts (or perhaps bluestones). Stonehenge functions as a cremation cemetery.
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2600 BCEStructure Eight (so called) erected at Barnhouse Settlement after village abandoned.
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c. 2550 BCEPhase III at Stonehenge, the refashioning of the simple earth and timber henge into a unique stone monument.
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c. 2500 BCEVillage of Skara Brae is abandoned for unknown reasons.
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c. 2500 BCE - c. 2000 BCEThe Balnuaran of Clava (Clava Cairns) is built.
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c. 2000 BCEBronze Age begins in Northern Europe.
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770 CELast recorded use of Clava Cairns site in antiquity.
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1850 CEStorm uncovers the buried Neolithic village of Skara Brae
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1850 CEBuried Neolithic Age village of Skara Brae uncovered by storm.