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 explain why archaeologists think humans began to farm in Britain during the Neolithic Era.

Key Notes

• The Neolithic Era saw lots of changes for early humans in Britain.
• Animal bones found during excavations suggest that this is when humans began to domesticate animals such as cattle.
• This was the first time that people started deliberately planting and harvesting crops.
• Excavations at Skara Brae have unearthed barley seeds, suggesting cultivation.
• New technologies developed: this is the first period from which archaeologists find pottery, including at Skara Brae.

Vocabulary To Learn

• Neolithic Era: the Neolithic Era is also known as the New Stone Age and is the third and final part of the Stone Age
• domesticated: a domesticated plant or animal is under human control
• pottery: items made out of clay are called pottery

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• That all Neolithic houses were built from stone.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Life at the end of the last Ice Age Study Guide
• Settlement during the Mesolithic Era Study Guide
• Significant Stone Age artefacts Study Guide
• The big picture of the earliest humans in Britain Study Guide
• The evidence of the Paleolithic Era Study Guide