Stepping Stones to the Neolithic? Radiocarbon Dating the Early Neolithic on Islands Within the ‘Western Seaways’ of Britain

New radiocarbon dating evidence from islands within Britain's 'Western Seaways' reveals that the earliest Neolithic presence dates to approximately 3900-3700 cal BC, aligning with the Gathering Time model. This study synthesizes existing and 50 new radiocarbon dates, challenging previous assumptions about the timing of Neolithic arrival in this critical region. While supporting broader chronological frameworks, the findings highlight gaps in current understanding due to sparse data across a vast area. Researchers advocate for further targeted dating and typo-chronological approaches to refine our comprehension of the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition's processes.

Garrow, D., Griffiths, S., Anderson-Whymark, H., & Sturt, F. (2017). Stepping Stones to the Neolithic? Radiocarbon Dating the Early Neolithic on Islands Within the ‘Western Seaways’ of Britain. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 83, 97–135. https://doi.org/10.1017/ppr.2017.4