Definition

Proper noun 1. The Neolithic period: The latest major division of the Stone Age, characterized by the development of agriculture, the domestication of animals, the manufacture of polished stone tools, and the establishment of permanent settlements. It followed the Mesolithic period and preceded the Bronze Age.

Usage

• The term "New Stone Age" is used primarily in archaeological and historical contexts to describe a specific era of human prehistory.
• It is often contrasted with the "Old Stone Age" (Paleolithic) and the "Middle Stone Age" (Mesolithic).

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The transition from hunting and gathering to farming is a hallmark of the New Stone Age.
  • Archaeologists discovered a New Stone Age settlement near the river.
  • Many megalithic monuments, like Stonehenge, were built during the New Stone Age.

Advanced Usage

• "the Neolithic": This is the more common academic synonym for "New Stone Age." The two terms are often used interchangeably.
  • The Neolithic Revolution fundamentally changed human society.

Variants and Related Words

• Neolithic (adj): Of or relating to the New Stone Age.
  • Neolithic tools were often polished and refined.
• Neolithic (n): A synonym for the New Stone Age period.
  • The Neolithic saw the first use of pottery.

Synonyms

• The Neolithic (Era/Period/Age)

Related Phrases

• Neolithic Revolution: Refers to the wide-scale transition of many human cultures from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to one of agriculture and settlement.
  • The Neolithic Revolution allowed for population growth and the rise of cities.

Noun

1. latest part of the Stone Age beginning about 10,000 BC in the Middle East (but later elsewhere)