Neolithic Timeline

Definition

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.

More about: Neolithic Period

Timeline

c. 20000 BCE
Cave painting flourishes in Spain and France, the most famous being the Cave of Lascaux in France.
c. 11700 BCE
End of the most recent glacial episode within the current Quaternary Ice Age.
10000 BCE
Beginnings of agriculture in the Middle East.
9000 BCE
Cultivation of wild cereals in the Fertile Crescent.
9000 BCE
Wild sheep flocks are managed in the Zagros mountains.
8000 BCE
Ovens in use in the Near East are applied to pottery production.
7700 BCE
First domesticated wheats in the Fertile Crescent.
7500 BCE
Long-distance trade in obsidian begins.
7000 BCE
Domestication of goats.
7000 BCE - 2500 BCE
Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods on Cyprus.
6700 BCE
Domestication of sheep.
6500 BCE
Domestication of pigs.
6500 BCE
Textiles of flax.
c. 6200 BCE
First copper smelting in Anatolia.
c. 6000 BCE
First irrigation.
6000 BCE
Domestication of cattle.
c. 6000 BCE
First fortified settlement at Ugarit.
5000 BCE
Irrigation and agriculture begin in earnest in Mesopotamia.
5000 BCE
Hierarchical societies emerge in southeast Europe.
5000 BCE - 3000 BCE
Megalithic structures erected at Carnac, north-west France.
5000 BCE - 4000 BCE
Megaliths are erected at the Neolithic site of Locmariaquer, north-west France.
c. 4800 BCE
Neolithic village of Banpo in China built.
4500 BCE
Invention of the plow.
c. 4500 BCE - c. 3750 BCE
The Neolithic village of Banpo is inhabited.
4300 BCE
First megalithic tombs in Europe.
4100 BCE - 2900 BCE
Uruk Period in Mesopotamia. First cities.
4000 BCE
Use of wool for textiles.
4000 BCE - 3500 BCE
Clyde Tombs of Western Scotland and the Carlingford Tombs of Northern Ireland are constructed.
4000 BCE
Medway Tombs of Kent, including Chesnuts, Addington and Coldrum, are constructed.
3807 BCE - 3806 BCE
The Sweet Track, a Neolithic wooden pathway, is constructed in Somerset, Britain.
c. 3700 BCE - c. 2800 BCE
Neolithic farmstead the Knap of Howar inhabited on Papa Westray, Orkney.
3500 BCE
Cotswold-Severn Group Long Barrows are constructed, which spanned from the north Wessex Downs, Cotswold Hills, South Wales coast, and the Brecon Beacons.
c. 3300 BCE - 2600 BCE
Neolithic site of Barnhouse Settlement occupied.
c. 3300 BCE - 2600 BCE
The Barnhouse Settlement constructed and inhabited.
c. 3100 BCE
Neolithic village of Skara Brae inhabited.
3100 BCE
Neolithic Village of Skara Brae inhabited, stone walls built.
c. 3100 BCE
Stonehenge Phase I - earthen henge dug on the site.
c. 3000 BCE
Aegina inhabited during Neolithic period.
c. 3000 BCE - c. 2800 BCE
The Neolithic chambered cairn known as Maeshowe constructed and in use.
c. 3000 BCE
Stonehenge Phase II - Digging of the Aubrey Holes, which probably contained wooden posts (or perhaps bluestones). Stonehenge functions as a cremation cemetery.
2600 BCE
Structure Eight (so called) erected at Barnhouse Settlement after village abandoned.
c. 2550 BCE
Phase III at Stonehenge, the refashioning of the simple earth and timber henge into a unique stone monument.
c. 2500 BCE
Village of Skara Brae is abandoned for unknown reasons.
c. 2500 BCE - c. 2000 BCE
The Balnuaran of Clava (Clava Cairns) is built.
c. 2000 BCE
Bronze Age begins in Northern Europe.
770 CE
Last recorded use of Clava Cairns site in antiquity.
1850 CE
Storm uncovers the buried Neolithic village of Skara Brae
1850 CE
Buried Neolithic Age village of Skara Brae uncovered by storm.

Neolithic Period

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