British Prehistory timeline

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Introduction – British prehistory timeline
The history of prehistoric Britain is that part of British history that dates back thousands of years, with evidence of human habitation dating as far back as 800,000 years ago. The earliest inhabitants of Britain were hunter-gatherers who roamed the land in search of food and shelter. These early settlers left behind tools made from stone, bone, and antler, as well as evidence of their living spaces in the form of pits and hearths.
Around 8000 BC, the climate in Britain began to warm, leading to the development of agriculture. This marked the beginning of the Neolithic period, a time when humans began to settle in one place and cultivate crops. Villages began to spring up across the landscape, and monuments such as Stonehenge and Avebury were built. These massive stone circles served as markers of time and place, as well as places of worship and community gathering.
During the Bronze Age, which began around 2500 BC, metalworking became more prevalent in Britain. People began to use bronze tools and weapons, and trade networks developed with other cultures in Europe. The Beaker people, so named for their distinctive pottery, arrived in Britain around this time and brought with them new customs and technology.
The Iron Age, which began around 800 BC, marked a time of significant change in Britain. Iron tools and weapons became more common, and hillforts began to appear across the landscape. These fortified settlements served as centers of power and defense for local chieftains and clans. The Celts, a group of people who spoke Celtic languages, arrived in Britain during this time and brought with them new customs and religious beliefs.
By the time the Romans invaded Britain in AD 43, the island was inhabited by a mix of Celtic tribes, each with their own customs and traditions. The Roman occupation of Britain lasted for nearly 400 years and had a profound impact on the culture and society of the island. The Romans built roads, towns, and fortresses, and introduced new technologies and ways of life to the local population.
After the Romans withdrew from Britain in the early 5th century AD, the island was invaded by a series of Germanic tribes, including the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. These invaders brought with them their own language, customs, and way of life, and established a series of kingdoms across the island. This period, known as the Anglo-Saxon period, lasted until the arrival of the Vikings in the late 8th century.
The Vikings, a seafaring people from Scandinavia, raided and settled in Britain for several centuries, leaving a lasting impact on the culture and language of the island. The Viking Age in Britain came to an end with the Norman Conquest in 1066, when William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, invaded and defeated the Anglo-Saxon King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.
The Norman Conquest brought about a period of significant change in Britain, as Norman nobles and clergy took control of the land and imposed their own laws and customs on the population. This marked the beginning of the medieval period in Britain, which lasted until the Tudor period in the 16th century.
In conclusion, the history of prehistoric Britain is a complex and fascinating story of human settlement, migration, and cultural exchange. From the early hunter-gatherers to the arrival of the Romans and beyond, the people of Britain have experienced periods of innovation, conflict, and change that have shaped the island into the diverse and vibrant society it is today (AI July 2024).
Plant-human relations
The interaction between humans and plants in British prehistory is a multifaceted and dynamic relationship that has shaped the landscape, society, and culture of the region for thousands of years. While the precise details of this interaction are often obscured by the passage of time, archaeological and historical evidence provide valuable insights into the ways in which plants have influenced human development and vice versa.
In the early stages of British prehistory, during the Mesolithic period (circa 10,000-4,000 BCE), human societies were predominantly hunter-gatherer in nature. Plants played a crucial role in the diet and subsistence strategies of these early inhabitants, providing valuable sources of nutrition, medicine, and material for tools and shelter. Edible plants such as berries, nuts, roots, and tubers were foraged from the surrounding landscape, while medicinal plants were utilized to treat various ailments and injuries. The exploitation of plants as a source of food helped to sustain these early societies and facilitated their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
As human populations grew and settled in permanent communities during the Neolithic period (circa 4,000-2,500 BCE), the relationship between humans and plants became more complex. The practice of agriculture emerged, leading to the cultivation of domesticated plants such as wheat, barley, and legumes. This shift towards agriculture represented a significant milestone in human history, as it allowed for the production of surplus food, the development of specialized skills, and the establishment of permanent settlements. Plants became not only a source of sustenance but also a central component of the social and economic systems that underpinned Neolithic societies.
The Bronze Age (circa 2,500-800 BCE) saw further developments in the interaction between humans and plants in British prehistory. The introduction of metal tools enabled more efficient agricultural practices, leading to increased crop yields and the cultivation of new plant species. The use of plants for purposes beyond mere sustenance also became more pronounced during this period, with the cultivation of plants for textiles, dyes, and ritual purposes. The construction of ceremonial and funerary monuments, such as stone circles and barrows, also relied on the exploitation of plants for materials such as timber and thatch.
By the Iron Age (circa 800 BCE-43 CE), the interaction between humans and plants had become deeply ingrained in the social, economic, and cultural fabric of British society. Agriculture continued to be a central focus, with the cultivation of cereals, fruits, and vegetables playing a vital role in sustaining growing populations. Plants were also used in the production of alcoholic beverages, such as beer and mead, which held religious and social significance in Iron Age society. The practice of horticulture and gardening became increasingly prominent, as evidenced by the elaborate designs of Iron Age hillforts and settlements.
The interaction between humans and plants in British prehistory was a dynamic and multifaceted relationship that evolved over millennia. Plants provided sustenance, materials, medicine, and spiritual significance to early inhabitants, shaping the development of agriculture, technology, and culture in the region. This enduring relationship continues to influence modern society and serves as a reminder of the profound impact that plants have had on human history (AI Sider July 2024).
The relationship between humans and plants in British prehistory is a profound narrative intertwining survival, culture, and the development of early agricultural practices. The account of this relationship begins with the arrival of early humans in Britain, around 800,000 years ago. Initially, these hunter-gatherer societies relied heavily on the flora around them for food, medicine, and materials. Fluoristic diversity supported hunting and foraging activities, and plants provided nuts, berries, and edible roots, which were crucial for sustenance in the variable climatic conditions of the British Isles.
As climates shifted, particularly at the end of the last Ice Age around 10,000 BCE, humans began to see dramatic changes in their environment. The subsequent Mesolithic period (c. 10,000 – 4000 BCE) marked a significant transition, during which communities became increasingly reliant on local plant species. This era is characterized by evidence of plant gathering, including barley, a primary crop later pivotal in the Neolithic agricultural revolution. Archaeological findings at sites such as Star Carr have revealed the use of wild plants, indicating a sophisticated understanding of plant cycles and habitat preferences vital for successful foraging.
The advent of the Neolithic period (c. 4000 – 2500 BCE) brought about transformative agricultural practices, as communities began to cultivate cereals and domesticate plants. The introduction of farming techniques, evidenced by the establishment of permanent settlements, marked a decisive shift in human-plant relations. People cultivated staple crops such as wheat, barley, and legumes, which drastically altered dietary patterns and social structures. The domestication of plants also facilitated the development of sedentary communities, allowing for population growth and the eventual emergence of complex societies.
Plant cultivation not only provided sustenance but also played a pivotal role in the cultural and spiritual lives of Neolithic communities. Ritualized practices, such as the construction of megalithic structures, indicate that certain plants may have held symbolic meanings or were integral to community cohesion. Pollen analysis from burial mounds, such as the notable site of Silbury Hill, has shown that certain flora was used in funerary rites, highlighting a complex interrelation between plants, culture, and identity.
The Bronze Age (c. 2500 – 800 BCE) further deepened the connection between humans and plants, as advancements in agriculture led to increased yields. This period saw the rise of trade networks, where plants such as fruit trees and herbs were exchanged. Archaeobotanical evidence suggests a diversification of cultivated species and the increasing relevance of plant-based materials in daily life, from textiles to construction. The relationship took on a new dimension as humans learned to manipulate their environment more profoundly, leading to enhanced agricultural practices that would forever alter the British landscape.
In summary, the relationship between humans and plants throughout British prehistory is characterized by an evolution from foraging to farming, illustrating a dynamic interplay shaped by environmental changes and socio-cultural developments. The cultivation of plants not only ensured survival but also fostered community identities and complex social structures. As the foundations of British agriculture were laid, the intricate bond between humans and the plant world became a defining feature of the region’s prehistoric legacy, one that continues to influence modern ecological and agricultural practices (AI Sider August 2024).
British Prehistory Timeline
BCE
800,000 – human footprints of Homo antecessor found at Hazeborough, Norfolk
500,000 – remains of Homo heidelbergensis found in Sussex
c. 500-300,000 – man-made flint hand axes and the bones of rhino, mammoth, sabre-toothed, tiger and hyena
230,000 – remains of Homo neanderthalensis found in Wales
45,000 – maxilla of Homo sapiens found in Kent’s Cavern, Torquay, Devon, the oldest modern human fossil found in northwest Europe (then united) in the region now called Britain
c. 25,000 – Ice Age covers Britain with ice sheet
20,000-15,000 – Last Glacial Maximum with coldest period around 16,000 BCE
13,000-10,000 – hunter-gatherers return with the warming of the climate
14,500-9800 – Natufian semi-settled culture with domestic forms of the rat, mouse, sparrow and dog. Use of sickles to harvest wild cereals
12,700 to 10,800 BCE – Warm Period
10,800 to 9,600 BCE – Younger Dryas
9,600 to 6,500 BCE – Mesolithic wave of migrants enter the British Isles from northern Spain (the Franco-Iberian Basque refuge) by following a Atlantic coastal route past Brittany.
7150 BCE – Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, found in Gough’s Cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, excavated in 1903, and now held in London’s Natural History Museum.
10,800-9600 – Younger Dryas – the last period of cold and dry conditions following the last Ice Age
8000-5000 – farming becomes widespread across Europe
9600-6500 – wave of migrants enter the British Isles from northern Spain, a Franco-Iberian Basque refuge, following a ‘beachcombing’ coastal route along the Atlantic coast of France past Brittany.
9500 – formation of the Irish Sea
7150 – Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, found in Gough’s Cave, Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, excavated in 1903
6500-6000 – land bridge with Europe inundated to form the English Channel and North Sea
5000-3500 – first pottery, polished flint, and polished stone tools –
4200-3500 – BRITISH NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION – based on the cereals, barley and emmer wheat with the domesticated livestock of cattle, pigs and sheep. Large-scale transport of stock and clearing of land as hunting and gathering, especially that based on coastal seafood, were replaced by settled communities eating grain and animal protein. Building of timber huts, the use of pottery and more refined tools. Communities now mined flint, built monuments, barrows, ditches and mounded enclosures. West Kennet Long Barrow, is one of many Wiltshire archaeological sites connected by ley lines: it was commenced about 3600 BCE some 400 years before Stonehenge, the entrance finally sealed with rocks in about 2500 BCE.
c. 3000 – Stonehenge phase 1 circular monument
c. 2500 – Stonehenge phase 2 – sarsen and bluestones added
1800-1500 – Stonehenge phase 3 – two concentric pit rings
1250-750 – first use of iron
450 – ironwork now widespread
c. 1000the Icelandic volcano Mt Hekla erupted (Hekla 3, or H3) the atmospheric volcanic ash cooling northern parts of the globe for several years. Traces of this eruption are found in Scottish peat bogs, and in Ireland a study of tree rings dating from this period has shown negligible tree ring growth for a decade.
200 – population of Britain and Ireland about 2 million
150 – wheel-made pottery
CE
43 – Romans defeat Britons at Battle of Medway
60 – Boadicea resists
69– Vespasian reinforces Roman garrisons
120 – Londinium created capital
128 – completion of Hadrian’s Wall
208-211 – Septimus Severus pushes beyond Hadrian’s Wall
410-411 – Roman garrisons withdraw
Media Gallery
First published on the internet – 1 March 2019
PLANT INFLUENCE
ON HUMANS
(GLOBAL LONG-TERM)
---
: SOCIAL ORGANIZATION :
accelerating synergistic growth in collective learning, technology, material complexity, globalization
governance
technology
values & norms
ENVIRONMENT
energy
resources
ECONOMY
food & agriculture
transport & communic'n
manufacture & trade
raw materials, mining, engineering
---
: ENVIRONMENT :
impact of population (urbanization) technology
HUMAN INFLUENCE
ON PLANTS
(GLOBAL LONG-TERM)
---
: DISTRIBUTION :
: SPECIES COMPOSITION :
: BIOMASS :
: GENETICS :
---
WILD PLANTS
native
WILD SPACES
---
CULTIVATED PLANTS
medicine (+ culin'y/arom'ic)
agriculture (cereals, staples)
horticultural crops
ornamentals
forestry/timber
naturalized
CULTIVATED SPACES
fields
parks
urban landscapes
gardens
