Study Guides

Unit Summary

This unit examines the archaeological record that exists for Stone Age Britain and introduces pupils to the way in which archaeologists make claims based on this evidence. As the first unit in KS2, it covers the settlement of humans in Britain during the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic eras.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe how humans lived in the Mesolithic Era.

Key Notes

• The Mesolithic Era began around 12,000 years ago.
• Britain was attached to the mainland but sea levels rose making it an island, reducing contact with the rest of Europe.
• The first evidence for houses in Britain and Ireland comes from the Mesolithic Era; a lot of evidence is from campsites.
• Mesolithic people hunted wild animals, fished and gathered wild plants, likely moving camps in different seasons.
• Howick house is called 'Britain's oldest house' with its remains suggesting it was built c.7600 years ago.

Vocabulary To Learn

• Mesolithic Era: the Mesolithic Era was the middle period of the Stone Age
• settlement: a settlement is place where people come to live in
• campsite: a group of temporary shelters is called a campsite

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• That a campsite is used for holidays.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Life at the end of the last Ice Age Study Guide
• Significant Stone Age artefacts Study Guide
• Skara Brae and life in the Neolithic Era Study Guide
• The big picture of the earliest humans in Britain Study Guide
• The evidence of the Paleolithic Era Study Guide