Timeline of prehistoric Britain

Updated on Dec 31, 2024

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Events from the prehistory of Britain (to 1 BC).

Events

c. 950,000 or 840,000 BC

Flints worked in south-eastern Britain.

c. 250,000 BC

Swanscombe Man (actually a woman), the oldest known human remains in Britain.

c. 180,000 BC

English Channel forms, separating Britain from the mainland.

c. 26,000 BC

Cave-dwelling Upper Paleolithic peoples in Britain.

c. 10,000 BC

Last Ice Age ends.

c. 8300 BC

Mesolithic period begins.

c. 4000 BC

Neolithic period begins in Britain, introducing the first agriculture.

c. 3000 BC

First henge monuments.

c. 2600 BC

Main phase of construction at Stonehenge begins, replacing earlier wooden and earthen works.

c. 2300 BC

Arrival of the Beaker People in Britain.

c. 1800 BC

Wessex culture brings bronze-working to Britain.

c. 1600 BC

Last construction at Stonehenge.

c. 1400 BC

Wessex culture replaced by more agrarian peoples; stone circles and early hillforts produced.

c. 800 BC

Celts bring iron working to Britain; Hallstatt Culture.

c. 400 BC

Parisi tribe from northern France settle in Yorkshire.

First brochs constructed.

c. 330 BC

Pytheas of Massilia circumnavigates Britain.

c. 300 BC

La Tene artwork introduced from northern France.

c. 100 BC

First wave of Belgic invaders settle in the south-east, establishing the Catuvellauni and Trinovantes tribes.

First coins introduced.

c. 80 BC

Second wave of Belgic invaders settle in Sussex, Berkshire, and Hampshire, establishing the Atrebates and Regnenses tribes.

55 BC

Commius, chieftain of the Atrebates, captured by the British after serving as an envoy to Rome.

26 August - Julius Caesar lands between Deal and Walmer, wins skirmishes against the British, and frees Commius.

31 August - Britons in war-chariots defeat the Romans. Romans return to Gaul.

54 BC

July - Julius Caesar invades Britain and defeats the Catuvellauni under Cassivellaunus.

September - Tribute fixed, and peace agreed between the Catevellauni and the Trinovantes, allied with Rome. Romans return to Gaul.

50 BC

Fleeing to Britain after a failed revolt in Gaul, Commius becomes chieftain of the Atrebates.

34 BC

Emperor Octavian makes an alliance with the Atrebates and Trinovantes.

c. 25 BC

Tincommius, leader of the Atrebates, issues Roman-style coinage.

References

Timeline of prehistoric Britain Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA