Neolithic

10,000 BCE - 4500 BCE. The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, was marked by the development of agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the establishment of permanent settlements. The rise of farming allowed humans to form larger communities, leading to the construction of early villages and towns. This period also saw the creation of significant religious and ceremonial sites, such as Stonehenge. In mythology, fertility gods and goddesses played a key role, symbolizing the life-giving properties of the earth. This was a time of profound social and technological change.