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Paleolithic
(2,000,000 – 10,000 BC) The Old Stone Age
The Paleolithic time period is by far the longest, beginning some two
million years ago to coincide with the first evidence of simple stone tool
making and
ending around 10,000 B.C. the end of the last ice age.
Mesolithic (10,000 –
5,500 BC) The Middle Stone Age
This relatively short time period covers the time from the last ice age
until the introduction of farming around 5,500 B.C. even though it was
already taking place a few thousand years earlier in the Middle East. In
Europe this was the period of hunter gatherers and tools slowly evolved
and became more complex.
Neolithic (5,500
– 2,500 BC) The New Stone Age
This short time period, the last part of the Stone Age, covers the period
from the start of farming and ending when metal tools came into use. Stone
tools were created with a high degree of skill. Metal tools (copper then
later bronze) could have begun as early as 6,000 B.C. within some regions of
Europe, Asia and North Africa.
3500-3000
- First appearance of long barrows and chambered tombs;
3000-2500 - Castlerigg Stone Circle (Cumbria),
one of Britain's earliest was built along with chambered tombs and passage
graves.
2500 - Bronze
Age
2500-1500 - Most stone circles in
British Isles erected during this period;
2300 - Construction begun on Britain's
largest stone circle at Avebury.
2000 - Metal objects are manufactured
in England about this time, first from copper, then from bronze; woven
cloth appears in Britain as pins and cloth fasteners were found in graves,
Construction begun on Stonehenge's inner ring of bluestones.
1500 - stone circles fall into disuse
around this time, burial mounds cease to be constructed; burials were made
near stone circles or in cemeteries.
1000 - Earliest hillforts begin to
appear, also fortified farmsteads; increasing sophistication of arts and
crafts, particularly in decorative personal and animal ornamentation.
600 - Iron replaces bronze, Iron
Age begins
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