The Neolithic British Isles refers to the period of British, Irish and Manx history that spanned from c. 4000 to c. 2,500 BCE. The final part of the Stone Age in the British Isles, it was a part of the greater Neolithic, or “New Stone Age“, across Europe.
Humans first settled down and began farming. They continued to make tools and weapons from flint. Some tools stayed the same from earlier periods in history, such as scrapers for preparing hides.
But the Neolithic also saw the introduction of new stone tool. First there was a movement away from using microliths to make spears and arrows as composite weapons and instead the universal adoption of flint arrow heads.
Neolithic tools were often retouched all over, by pressure flaking, giving a characteristic appearance and were often laboriously polished, again giving them a distinctive look.
Pottery also developed in this period and there are examples of Neolithic Pottery recorded in this collection
Neolithic Fire Cup / Neolithic Lamp 
Neolithic Fire Cup / Neolithic Lamp 
Neolithic Fire Cup / Neolithic Lamp
Neolithic Fire Cup / Neolithic Lamp
Provenance – Found near the River Ter Valley, Chelmsford Essex
Description – This tool interests me a lot, as I have three near identical ones. I listed the previous two in the Mesolithic Collection as I was not 100% sure which period they relate too, although it is very likely they are a cross between them both.
All three of these have a flat base. A stone handle and includes a sunken impression in the base of the cup. either to use as a firecup or a primitive oil lamp.
you can view the other two in this collection via the links below:
This Fire Cup / Lamp includes the cortex of the flint and the base is polished.
Size – 9 cm x 7 cm
Weight – 235g
Age – Neolithic 4000 BCE – 2500 BCE
