Print this page Archaeology 102: The Neolithic Revolution – From Hunters to Farmers

Around 10,000 years ago, human societies began one of the biggest transitions in history. Small, mobile groups gradually settled, cultivated crops, domesticated animals and created the first farming communities.

This engaging course explores that long, complex shift through archaeology. You’ll examine early villages, changing diets, new technologies, social structures and belief systems, and consider what these changes meant for everyday life. No prior knowledge is needed, just curiosity about the human past.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face to face
• Online

COURSE OUTLINE

• Life before farming: hunter-gatherers and survival strategies.
• The Agricultural Transition: crops, animals, and early tools.
• First villages: homes, work, and community life.
• Beliefs, rituals, and monuments of Neolithic societies.
• Archaeological discoveries shaping our understanding of the past.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understand the key characteristics of the Neolithic period.
• Explain the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to farming communities.
• Identify major developments in early agriculture and domestication.
• Describe the structure and daily life of early Neolithic settlements.
• Recognise key archaeological evidence used to interpret prehistoric societies.
• Discuss the social, cultural, and environmental impacts of the Neolithic transition.

COURSE RESOURCES

• Barker, G. (2006). The Agricultural Revolution in Prehistory: Why Did Foragers Become Farmers? Oxford University Press.
• Bellwood, P. (2005). First Farmers: The Origins of Agricultural Societies. Blackwell Publishing.

This course is suggested for:

• Adult learners with an interest in history and archaeology.
• Students who have completed Archaeology 101.
• Beginners with no prior background.
• Lifelong learners seeking engaging, accessible education.