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 Stone Lamp / Cup 
Neolithic Stone Lamp / Cup 
Neolithic Stone Lamp / Cup 
Neolithic Stone Lamp / Cup
Neolithic Stone Lamp / Cup
Provenance – Found close to the River Ter valley near Chelmsford, Essex
Description – A Neolithic Stone Lamp / Cup – A heavy item with a large hole made on the inside, this is either an old oil lamp or a very primitive cup. There is also a possibility that this could be what is called a Hag stone / Fairy stone. The item found in Neolithic context is an interesting one.
Size – 9 cm x 8.5 cm
Weight – 343g
Age / Period – Neolithic 4000 BCE – 2500 BCE
