Hello, my name is Alex Iles, and welcome to Ingram Valley in Northumberland National Park. In today’s episode, we’re exploring the Neolithic period—one of the most significant turning points in human history.
What Was the Neolithic Period?
The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, began in the British Isles around 4000 BC—roughly 6,000 years ago. It marked a dramatic shift in human civilization, as people transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming.
But how did this change come about? To understand the origins of the Neolithic, we need to look far beyond Britain—to the ancient lands of the Middle East.
The Birthplace of Farming
Due to climate change and rising global temperatures, sea levels rose, flooding a highly fertile region—possibly where the modern Gulf Strait lies between Iraq and Iran, displacing hunter-gatherers during the Mesolithic and moving them into new lands where they developed farming.
Oil companies mapping the seabed have discovered evidence of an ancient, lush forest beneath the waters. Some researchers believe this lost landscape could have been an early “Garden of Eden,” providing an abundance of food for Mesolithic hunter-gatherers.
However, as the sea encroached on this land, people were forced to move into the surrounding regions, particularly the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys. Faced with new challenges, they had to adapt—and they did so by developing agriculture.
Archaeologists believe the Neolithic revolution began in what is today the Middle East, in the fertile Crescent, because of these changes.
The Spread of Farming Across Europe
Over thousands of years, early farming communities expanded. Each generation grew larger, supported by more stable food supplies. These Neolithic farmers spread northward into Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) and then westward across Europe.
By around 4000 BC, farming communities had reached Brittany in present-day France. From there, they crossed into the British Isles, bringing with them domesticated animals, cultivated crops, and new ways of life.
The Neolithic in Britain
When these early farmers arrived, Britain was a land of dense forests teeming with wildlife. To establish their settlements, they began clearing trees and opening up the landscape for agriculture. Terraces can still be seen in the ingram valley which were established in the Neolithic.
With these clearings, they introduced domesticated plants and animals, transforming Britain’s environment and laying the foundations for permanent communities. Over time, their numbers grew, and their influence spread, shaping the cultural and genetic landscape of the islands.
A Lasting Legacy
The arrival of Neolithic farmers in Britain marked the beginning of a new era. They built some of the earliest monuments, such as cup and ring stones and developed the foundations of the agricultural society that would continue for millennia.
This great migration and transition from hunter-gathering to farming fundamentally changed the course of human history—turning forests into fields and paving the way for the complex civilizations that followed.
Keep Exploring
I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s journey into the past! Until next time, stay safe and well—and thank you for joining me on this exploration of the Neolithic world!
Refrences: https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/from-foraging-to-farming-the-10000-year-revolution
