The first humans to arrive in what is now Britain were hunter-gatherers who migrated from mainland Europe towards the end of the last ice age, around 12,000 years ago. These people were part of a wider group of people who are known as the Mesolithic peoples.

The Mesolithic peoples were nomadic and relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild food for survival. They traveled across land that is now covered by the English Channel, which was then a land bridge between Britain and mainland Europe.

Around 4,000 years later, during the Neolithic period, a new wave of people arrived in Britain. These people were farmers who brought with them new technologies and ways of life. They are thought to have come from modern-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France.

The Mesolithic peoples were nomadic hunter-gatherers who lived in small communities and relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild food for survival. They used stone tools, such as flint, to hunt animals and cut down trees. Archaeological evidence shows that they hunted red deer, wild boar, and other game, and gathered nuts, berries, and other wild foods.

Around 6,000 years ago, the Neolithic period began, also known as the New Stone Age. This period marked a major shift in human history as people began to settle in one place and develop agriculture. The first farmers to arrive in Britain were from modern-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France.

The Neolithic peoples brought with them new technologies, such as the ability to grow crops and raise animals. They built permanent settlements and developed new forms of social organization. They also constructed megalithic monuments, such as Stonehenge and Avebury, which are still standing today.

Over time, the Neolithic peoples developed a complex society with trade networks, religious practices, and social hierarchies. They continued to build megaliths and other monuments, and their descendants went on to build the Bronze Age and Iron Age civilizations that followed. Neolithic settlements in Britain varied in size and structure, but they shared some common features. Most were small, rural communities consisting of a few households or extended families. Here are some key characteristics of their settlements:

Houses: Neolithic houses were typically rectangular or oval in shape and made from locally available materials. In Britain, this usually meant timber, wattle-and-daub (woven wooden branches covered with a mix of mud, straw, and dung), and thatched roofs. Some stone-built houses have also been found, particularly in areas where timber was scarce. The interiors often had a central hearth for cooking and heating, and the living space was shared by humans and animals alike.

Farming: The settlements were predominantly agricultural, surrounded by cultivated fields for crops like wheat and barley, as well as pastures for grazing livestock such as sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle. The Neolithic farmers practiced a mixed farming system, combining crop cultivation with animal husbandry.

Storage: The inhabitants of these settlements needed to store their harvested crops, so they often constructed granaries or storage pits dug into the ground. These storage facilities helped preserve food for the community during the colder months or in case of crop failure.

Crafts and industry: In addition to farming, the inhabitants of Neolithic settlements engaged in various crafts and industries. They produced pottery for cooking, storage, and possibly ritual purposes. They also made tools and weapons from polished stone, bone, and antler, and crafted everyday items such as baskets, mats, and clothing from plant fibers and animal hides.

Burial practices: Neolithic people in Britain typically buried their dead in communal burial monuments, such as long barrows and chambered tombs. These structures, often located near settlements, reflect the importance of honoring the deceased and maintaining connections with ancestors.

Ritual and ceremonial sites: Neolithic settlements were often situated near ritual or ceremonial structures, like causewayed enclosures, henges, and cursus monuments. These sites, which may have had religious or social significance, were likely important gathering places for the wider community.

Trade and exchange: Neolithic communities in Britain were connected through trade and exchange networks. People traded goods like pottery, stone tools, and raw materials such as flint, and these networks allowed for the spread of ideas and technologies.

As the Neolithic period progressed, some settlements grew in size and complexity, possibly developing into the first small-scale, agrarian-based societies. These larger settlements would have required increased cooperation and organization among their inhabitants, laying the groundwork for the more complex societies that emerged in the Bronze Age.