Neolithic

The Neolithic, or New Stone Age, is a vital archaeological period in human history.

It represents the final division of the Stone Age in parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. This era is defined by the Neolithic Revolution. This revolution was a wide-ranging set of developments that changed how humans lived. These changes appeared to arise independently in several different parts of the world. The term was coined by John Lubbock in 1865 to refine the three-age system.

The Neolithic Revolution worked through a specific set of changes called the "Neolithic package." This package included the introduction of farming and the domestication of animals. It also involved a shift from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled way of life. People moved from moving frequently to living in permanent settlements. They began to manage plants and animals to ensure a steady food supply. This shift allowed for the creation of more complex social structures. It changed the relationship between humans and their environment forever.

There were many different stages and types of Neolithic cultures. In the Near East, the period began with the Natufian culture. This was a "proto-Neolithic" stage where people relied on wild cereals. Later, the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) emerged around 10,200 BC. This stage saw the rise of true farming. Following this, the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) developed around 8800 BC. In this stage, settlements became larger and houses became rectangular. Eventually, the Late Neolithic appeared around 6,400 BC. This period saw the rise of distinct pottery-using cultures like the Halafian and Ubaid.

History shows that these developments happened at different times in different places. The Neolithic began about 12,000 years ago in the Near East and Mesopotamia.

In China, the period lasted until about 2000 BC. In Ancient Egypt, it lasted until the Protodynastic period in 3150 BC. In Scandinavia, it also lasted until around 2000 BC. Different regions had their own unique timelines. For example, some East Asian cultures used pottery before they even developed agriculture. This shows that the Neolithic process was not the same everywhere.

The significance of this period is seen in its massive geographic spread. Agriculture originated in several centers. The Fertile Crescent saw farming start 12,000 years ago. The Yangtze and Yellow River basins saw it 9,000 years ago. The New Guinea Highlands also saw farming 9,000 to 6,000 years ago. In Central and Northern South America, it began 5,000 to 4,000 years ago. Sub-Saharan Africa saw developments 5,000 to 4,000 years ago. These numbers show how the revolution transformed the entire planet.

Many notable examples of Neolithic life exist in the archaeological record. Göbekli Tepe in Turkey is a site from around 9500 BC.

It contains limestone pillars carved with animals and birds. Jericho is another famous example from the Levant.

Around 9000 BC, it became a town with a massive stone tower and a wall. Another large site was 'Ain Ghazal in Jordan.

It housed about 3,000 people and featured early large-scale human statues. These sites prove how much social organization had grown.

The Neolithic connects to many broader systems of human development. The shift to farming led to the development of metallurgy. This transition is known as the Chalcolithic, or Copper Age.

The Chalcolithic began around 4500 BC in the Near East. This eventually led to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. The way people managed land and animals also shaped early religious practices. We see this in burial findings and ancestor cults. These early systems provided the foundation for all future civilizations.