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Early Britain

Section 1 of 2

Section 1

Stone Age to Iron Age

Early Inhabitants

The first people to live in Britain arrived around 10,000 years ago after the last Ice Age. They were hunter-gatherers who gradually learned to farm.

Stonehenge

Built around 5,000 years ago, Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. Located in Wiltshire, England, it was probably a site for religious ceremonies.

The Bronze Age

During the Bronze Age (around 4,000 years ago), people learned to make bronze tools and weapons. Round burial mounds called barrows can still be seen in many parts of Britain.

The Iron Age

Around 2,500 years ago, people learned to make iron tools and weapons. They built hillforts across Britain for protection. Celtic languages developed during this period, ancestors of modern Welsh, Scots Gaelic, and Irish Gaelic.

Skara Brae

A remarkably well-preserved Stone Age village in Orkney, Scotland, dating from around 3100 BC. It is one of Europe's best examples of a Neolithic settlement and is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

📆Prehistoric Britain at a Glance
EraApproximate DateKey Features
Stone Age10,000 years agoHunter-gatherers, Stonehenge, Skara Brae
Bronze Age4,000 years agoBronze tools, round barrows (burial mounds)
Iron Age2,500 years agoIron tools, hillforts, Celtic languages
🔑Key Facts to Remember
  • First people arrived ~10,000 years ago (after last Ice Age)
  • Stonehenge: ~5,000 years old, in Wiltshire, probably for ceremonies
  • Skara Brae: Stone Age village in Orkney, Scotland
  • Celtic languages → modern Welsh, Scots Gaelic, Irish Gaelic
  • Hillforts were built for protection during the Iron Age
💡Memory Trick
  • Think S.B.I. for the three ages: Stone → Bronze → Iron
  • Each age is named after the main material used for tools

These are summary notes — for full preparation, read the official handbook.

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Early Britain - Life in the UK Study Guide