The Neolithic was the final stage of technological development among prehistoric humans. It was characterized by stone tools shaped by polishing or grinding, dependence on domesticated plants and animals, settlement in permanent villages, and the appearance of such crafts as pottery and weaving.

The Neolithic (or ‘New Stone Age’) is a term used for the period in our past when the shift from hunting and gathering wild animals and plants to a farming lifestyle occurred. It was also the time when pottery was first used, and in many regions, people also began to live in permanent settlements.

This new stone age developed in the Holocene epoch, preceded by the Mesolithic age. This prehistoric period was characterised by the development of agriculture, pottery, and permanent settlement, thus marking the beginning of the first human civilisation often termed the Neolithic Revolution.

People started to live in settlements during the first Neolithic age. These settlements were at the junction between different environments so people could get food from many different habitats without moving. Animals and plants that had been uncontrolled slowly became domesticated.