Timeline of prehistoric Britain

Events from the prehistory of Britain (to 1 BC). The entries are backed by modern research in archaeology.

Events

• c. 950,000 or 840,000 BC
  • 2010. Flints worked in south-eastern Britain.
• c. 800,000 BC
  • Happisburgh early flint workings; footprints.
• c. 700,000 BC
  • Pakefield early flint workings.
• c. 500,000 BC
  • Eartham Pit, Boxgrove the oldest known human remains found in Britain.
• c. 250,000 BC
  • Swanscombe Man (actually a woman), the second oldest known human remains found 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.
  • Cheddar Man, the oldest complete human skeleton found in Britain.
• c. 7600 BC
  • Howick house in Northumberland, a Mesolithic building.
• 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