Neolithic

4000 BC – 2500 BC

In Ireland, the Neolithic period began around 4000 BCE and lasted until about 2500 BCE. The transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more settled agricultural lifestyle occurred during this time period. During this time, permanent settlements, the domestication of animals and plants, and a number of significant artifacts emerged. Megalithic tombs are the most impressive monuments from this period that are still visible today. The artifacts from this time period shed light on the lives of the people who lived during this period.

Ireland established a number of significant sites during the Neolithic period. Newgrange, a large passage tomb in County Meath, is the most famous of these structures. This is one of the most impressive Neolithic monuments in Europe, believed to have been constructed around 3200 BCE. The megalithic tombs of Carrowmore in County Sligo, the court tombs of Carrowkeel in County Mayo, and the passage tombs of Loughcrew in County Meath are also significant sites.

During the Neolithic period in Ireland, a number of significant artifacts emerged. Included among these are pottery, stone tools, and weapons. Pottery was used for cooking, storage, and decoration, among other purposes. There were numerous uses for stone tools, including hunting, farming, and construction. Axes and spears were utilized for both hunting and warfare. Jewellery, such as beads and pendants, and carved stone objects, such as stone circles and standing stones, are also artifacts.