"The Neolithic or New Stone Age is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Europe, Asia, and Africa."
Covering the period after the Paleolithic period, from around 10,000 BCE to the advent of the Bronze Age. This period is characterized by the emergence of agriculture, the rise of settlements, and the development of pottery.
Chronology of the Neolithic period: The Neolithic period refers to the period of human history that roughly spans from 10,000 BCE to 2,000 BCE. This epoch represents the shift from a hunting and gathering culture to a settled, agrarian society.
Domestication of crops and animals: Domestication refers to the process by which humans modify the traits of plants and animals to make them more useful. The Neolithic period saw the development of agriculture and animal husbandry.
Social organization during the Neolithic period: Archaeologists have found evidence of complex social structures in Neolithic societies, with some communities displaying evidence of social hierarchy and specialization of labor.
Technological advancements during the Neolithic period: The Neolithic period saw several technological innovations, including the development of pottery, weaving, and the domestication of animals for labor.
Architecture and settlement patterns: Neolithic communities built various types of dwellings, including pit-houses, roundhouses, and longhouses. Archaeologists also note that the layout of settlements varied, with some communities forming clusters around central structures.
Religion and belief systems of Neolithic societies: The religious beliefs and practices of Neolithic societies are not well understood, but many communities appear to have placed an emphasis on ancestor worship and ritual.
Art and craft production during the Neolithic period: Neolithic societies produced a variety of decorative and utilitarian objects, including pottery, jewelry, and weapons.
Neolithic burial practices: Archaeologists have found evidence of complex burial rituals in Neolithic societies, including the construction of burial mounds and the inclusion of grave goods.
Trade and exchange: There is evidence of long-distance trade networks and exchange between Neolithic societies, including the exchange of raw materials, finished goods, and ideas.
Climate and environmental changes during the Neolithic period: The Neolithic period saw significant environmental changes, including the end of the last ice age and the emergence of new climatic conditions. These changes had a significant impact on human societies, forcing them to adapt to new environments and develop new strategies for survival.
Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA): Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) refers to the early phase of the Neolithic period characterized by the development of settled farming communities without the use of pottery.
Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB): Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) refers to a stage in the Neolithic period characterized by sedentary lifestyles, the establishment of permanent settlements, and the beginning of agriculture in the ancient Near East, particularly between 7,800 and 6,500 BCE.
Pottery Neolithic (PN): Pottery Neolithic (PN) refers to the period in the development of human civilization when pottery became an essential component of daily life and had a profound impact on technological advancements, social organization, and cultural practices.
Minoan Neolithic: Minoan Neolithic refers to the prehistoric period on the island of Crete characterized by the development of early agricultural practices and the emergence of the Minoan civilization.
Vinča culture: The Vinča culture was a prehistoric Neolithic civilization that flourished in the Balkans during the 6th and 5th millennia BCE, characterized by its advanced society, large settlements, and distinctive ceramic figurines.
Sesklo culture: Sesklo culture was a Neolithic settlement in Greece, known for its advanced farming practices, pottery production, and early evidence of social hierarchy.
Starčevo culture: The Starčevo culture was a Neolithic culture that existed in the Balkans during the 6th millennium BCE, characterized by its farming economy and distinctive pottery.
Linearbandkeramik (LBK) culture: The Linearbandkeramik (LBK) culture refers to a Neolithic farming society in Europe known for their distinctive pottery decorated with linear designs.
Danubian culture: Danubian culture refers to the prehistoric cultural and technological developments along the Danube River in the Neolithic period, characterized by agricultural practices, complex societies, and the use of pottery.
Cardial culture: Cardial culture refers to the earliest known Neolithic culture in Mediterranean Europe characterized by the presence of distinctive pottery with impressed cardium shells.
Remedello culture: The Remedello culture refers to a Neolithic civilization in northern Italy characterized by a distinctive ceramic style and a reliance on agriculture and animal husbandry.
Horgen culture: The Horgen culture was a Neolithic culture that existed in the region of present-day Switzerland during the Middle Neolithic period, characterized by their sophisticated pottery and use of copper.
Campignian culture: Campignian culture refers to a Neolithic archaeological culture found primarily in northern Italy, characterized by the construction of large timber-framed houses and the practice of agriculture and animal husbandry.
Butmir culture: The Butmir culture was a Neolithic culture that flourished in the Balkans between 5200 BCE and 4600 BCE, characterized by its unique pottery and early evidence of copper metallurgy.
Cucuteni-Trypillian culture: The Cucuteni-Trypillian culture was a prehistoric civilization that thrived in Eastern Europe during the Neolithic period, known for their advanced agricultural practices and distinctive pottery.
Dalmatian culture: Dalmatian culture refers to the prehistoric society that inhabited the region of Dalmatia during the Neolithic period, characterized by their particular pottery and use of stone tools.
Eastern Linear Pottery culture: The Eastern Linear Pottery culture was a Neolithic culture characterized by its distinctive linear designs on pottery and its agrarian lifestyle in eastern Central Europe.
Funnelbeaker culture: Funnelbeaker culture refers to a Neolithic culture in Europe characterized by its pottery with distinctive funnel-shaped necks.
Maltese Temple culture: Maltese Temple culture refers to the Neolithic period in Malta, characterized by the construction of impressive stone temples and a complex society marked by advanced agriculture and spirituality.
Megalithic Builders culture: The Megalithic Builders culture refers to a prehistoric society in the Neolithic period known for constructing large stone structures such as Stonehenge.
Narva culture: The Narva culture, during the Neolithic period, was characterized by its unique ceramic styles and burial customs in the Baltic region.
Rössen culture: The Rössen culture was a Neolithic culture in Europe, characterized by its pottery and agricultural practices.
Stentinello culture: The Stentinello culture was a prehistoric culture in Sicily characterized by the use of pottery and the beginnings of farming during the Neolithic period.
Tisza culture: The Tisza culture was a Neolithic culture centered around the Tisza River in present-day Hungary, known for its advanced settlements and intricately painted pottery.
Windmill Hill culture: Windmill Hill culture was a Neolithic society in Britain known for their circular enclosures and connection to the construction of causewayed enclosures.
"This 'Neolithic package' included the introduction of farming, domestication of animals, and a change from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to one of settlement."
"The term 'Neolithic' was coined by Sir John Lubbock in 1865 as a refinement of the three-age system."
"The Neolithic began about 12,000 years ago when farming appeared in the Epipalaeolithic Near East."
"It lasted in the Near East until the transitional period of the Chalcolithic (Copper Age) from about 6,500 years ago (4500 BC)."
"The transitional period of the Chalcolithic was marked by the development of metallurgy, leading up to the Bronze Age and Iron Age."
"In Ancient Egypt, the Neolithic lasted until the Protodynastic period, c. 3150 BC."
"In China, it lasted until circa 2000 BC with the rise of the pre-Shang Erlitou culture."
"In Scandinavia, the Neolithic lasted until about 2000 BC."
"The term 'Neolithic' is derived from the Greek words 'néos' meaning 'new' and 'líthos' meaning 'stone.'"
"This 'Neolithic package' included the introduction of farming, domestication of animals, and a change from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to one of settlement... developments that appear to have arisen independently in several parts of the world."
"In other places, the Neolithic followed the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) and then lasted until later."
"The Neolithic began about 12,000 years ago when farming appeared in the Epipalaeolithic Near East."
"The transitional period of the Chalcolithic (Copper Age)... started from about 6,500 years ago (4500 BC)."
"In Ancient Egypt, the Neolithic lasted until the Protodynastic period, c. 3150 BC."
"In China, it lasted until circa 2000 BC with the rise of the pre-Shang Erlitou culture."
"The transitional period of the Chalcolithic was marked by the development of metallurgy, leading up to the Bronze Age and Iron Age."
"In China, it lasted until circa 2000 BC with the rise of the pre-Shang Erlitou culture."
"In Scandinavia, the Neolithic lasted until about 2000 BC."
"This 'Neolithic package' included the introduction of farming, domestication of animals, and a change from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to one of settlement."