Prehistoric Britain denotes the long span of human occupation on the islands of Great Britain and adjacent areas before local written records. It begins with the first known presence of early humans—around 900,000 years ago—and continues until the Roman invasion in AD 43. For a general definition of prehistory see prehistory, and for geographic context consult sources about Britain.
Major periods and sequence
Archaeologists divide prehistoric Britain into broad stages: the Palaeolithic (earliest hunter-gatherers using stone tools), the Mesolithic (post-glacial hunter-gatherer refinements), the Neolithic (agriculture, permanent settlements and large monuments), the Bronze Age (metalworking and new social structures) and the Iron Age (wider trade networks and fortified settlements). These stages mark changes in technology, economy and social organization rather than abrupt breaks.
People, technology and economy
Over hundreds of thousands of years different human groups occupied the islands, from early Homo species to later Neanderthals and modern humans. Stone tools, hunting gear, pottery, textile impressions and, eventually, bronze and iron objects document shifting skills. The Neolithic introduction of farming transformed land use, diet and settlement patterns.
Monuments and archaeological evidence
Prehistoric Britain is particularly notable for its surviving monuments and earthworks: stone circles, burial mounds, causewayed enclosures and hillforts. Stonehenge and Avebury are among the best-known megalithic sites; barrows and communal tombs appear across the landscape. Much of what is known comes from excavation, dating methods such as radiocarbon analysis, and environmental evidence preserved in peat and lake sediments.
Landscape change and connections
Climate shifts and sea-level rise repeatedly reshaped the environment. After the last Ice Age the land bridge known as Doggerland connected Britain to continental Europe but later became submerged, isolating populations and influencing cultural developments. Long-distance contacts brought materials and ideas from continental Europe throughout prehistory.
Significance and legacy
Prehistoric Britain left a deep imprint on the modern landscape, place names and local traditions. Its study combines field archaeology, environmental science and genetic research to trace population movements and cultural change. The Roman conquest in AD 43 marks the conventional end of this prehistoric sequence and the beginning of documented history for Britain; see accounts of the Roman invasion for the transition.
- Overview of stages and characteristic features
- Key types of evidence: tools, monuments, environmental records
- Ongoing research continues to refine chronology and interpretation