Hello, my name is Alex Iles, and welcome to the stunning College Valley, part of Northumberland National Park. Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of Neolithic farming—how it began, how it transformed Britain, and how it shaped the landscape we see today. This is a continuation of our neolthic blog series.
The Arrival of Neolithic Farmers
The Neolithic period in Britain began around 4000 BC, roughly 6,000 years ago. This was a time of great change, as a new population of farmers migrated into the British Isles, distinct from the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who had previously inhabited the land.
While the Mesolithic people relied on hunting and gathering, moving across the landscape to find food, the Neolithic farmers brought a completely new way of life. They introduced agriculture, creating permanent settlements rather than constantly moving in search of food.
Early Farming Practices
When the first Neolithic farmers arrived, they likely did not settle down immediately. Instead, they probably maintained a semi-nomadic lifestyle, carefully selecting the best areas for farming and living in seasonal settlements. They might have farmed on hilltop terraces during the summer while continuing to hunt and forage to supplement their diet.
At first, there was little evidence of domesticated livestock in Britain. However, as Neolithic farming communities became more established, they began importing cattle, sheep, and other domesticated animals from mainland Europe. These animals played a crucial role in their way of life, providing food, materials for clothing, and even labor for farming. It’s possible that later waves of Neolithic farmers brought additional livestock, further solidifying the agricultural lifestyle.
Expansion and Population Growth
As Neolithic farmers settled into the British Isles, they started cultivating staple crops such as barley and wheat. Over time, their communities expanded, establishing more permanent farms in fertile valleys like the one we’re standing in today.
One of the reasons Neolithic farmers thrived was their ability to sustain larger populations than their Mesolithic counterparts. Farming allowed them to have a stable food supply, which in turn enabled them to raise larger families. This population growth led to the gradual expansion of Neolithic farming communities across Britain.
Interactions with Mesolithic Populations
The arrival of the Neolithic farmers inevitably brought them into contact with the existing Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. It’s likely that the two groups interacted, possibly through trade or intermarriage. However, as farming became more dominant, the Mesolithic way of life slowly faded.
Unlike in some parts of the world, there is no evidence of a violent takeover by Neolithic farmers. Instead, their success may have simply pushed the hunter-gatherers to the margins. As agricultural communities grew, Mesolithic populations had fewer areas to hunt and gather, leading to their gradual decline.
Farming and Family Life
One of the biggest advantages of farming was the ability to raise multiple children at once. In a hunter-gatherer society, raising children was challenging due to the need for constant movement. A mother or father’s attention would be solely focused on one child at a time to ensure their survival.
In contrast, farming communities could support larger families because they were settled in one place. Older siblings could help raise younger ones, and entire villages contributed to child-rearing. This ability to sustain larger populations gave the Neolithic farmers a significant advantage in expanding their way of life.
The Lasting Impact of Neolithic Farming
The effects of Neolithic farming are still visible in the British landscape today. Here in Northumberland, we can see remnants of medieval farming, but it’s likely that even earlier Neolithic and Bronze Age farmers worked this very land. These early farmers played a crucial role in shaping the countryside, clearing forests, building settlements, and introducing domesticated animals.
Their influence didn’t just stop at farming. The Neolithic people also built incredible monuments, such as stone circles and burial mounds, leaving behind a rich archaeological record that helps us understand their world.
Conclusion
I hope this journey through Neolithic farming has given you a deeper appreciation for how these early settlers transformed Britain. Their legacy is all around us, from the rolling fields to the traces of ancient settlements hidden in the landscape.
Until next time, stay safe and well, and thank you for joining me on this journey into the past!
Refrences: Mazzucco N, Ibáñez JJ, Capuzzo G, Gassin B, Mineo M, Gibaja JF. Migration, adaptation, innovation: The spread of Neolithic harvesting technologies in the Mediterranean. PLoS One. 2020 Apr 30;15(4):e0232455. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232455.
Racimo, F. Woodbridge, J., Fyfe, R.M., Sikora, M. Sjögren, M. Kristiansen, Vander Linden ,K. M., “The spatiotemporal spread of human migrations during the European Holocene”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. Vol. 117, No. 16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1920051117 (2020).
