5500-3200 BC Neolithic

The Neolithic was the period when farming was introduced to communities across Europe from the Near East. It is thought that the key elements for farming, such as cereal grains and domesticated animals, were moved across the Mediterranean sea by people travelling on boats. Communities in the coastal areas of south-west Europe were the first to take up elements of farming, particularly animal husbandry. However, traditional ways of gathering food and making tools continued for many years alongside farming.

By the middle of the Neolithic (around 4500 BC) people across south-west Europe farmed both animals and crops, though some areas were sparsely settled. Communities lived mainly in open settlements and used simple round-based pottery and polished stone axes. In some regions, such as the area of modern Portugal, the spread of farming was associated with the first megalithic tombs (communal tombs made from large stones).

From around 3500 BC tomb-building activity reached new heights, and finely crafted prestige goods such as engraved plaques made of schist or slate, ivory objects, and enigmatic curved objects known as crosiers were made. Intensive exploitation of variscite, traded across Europe, at mines at Can Tintorer, near Barcelona also began during this period. Copper metalworking began in a simple way. In some places complex defended settlements sprang up such as Los Millares in Almeria.