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Megaliths (Neolithic Age)
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The tallest Megalithic stone, in Britain, can be found in the village of Rudston near Bridlington. Other Megalithic stones can be found at Ramsdale near Robin Hood's bay.
These stones represent some of the very first monuments. The effort in staging them can only be described as monumental, and would challenge the very best of today's engineers especially given the basic tools available at that time.
Pottery and sophisticated flint tools can be found dating from the earliest of this period. Farming played a major role, and forest areas were cleared to support crops. Evidence of Ceremonial burials are common in the form of burial mounds. The earliest burial mounds contained communities of bodies. Later mounds often contained single significant individuals. As we move further into the bronze Age artefacts made of bronze and gold have been found especially in later burial mound sites.
Commerce (bartering) within and between communities was probably common with perhaps rudimentary counting and maybe some form of writing ability employed by some (most likely elite) community members. There is NO indication of currency (i.e. coins) from this time.
The extended family unit or clan has given way to larger settlements (small towns or villages) possibly fortified against neighbouring communities. It is reasonable to assume that the environment outside of their community would have seemed hostile - filled with wild beasts, and other unknown dangers. The diet of this period would have moved away from mainly protein (meat) to a mixture of grain, vegetables and some wild or domesticated meat.
The beliefs of this period are NOT known. It is obvious though, that the people were determined and focused suggesting that their beliefs were wholehearted. Communities across Europe and Britain must have shared a common belief system because these Megalithic stones (which must have had a common meaning or religious significance) can be found throughout western Europe and Britain.
It is highly likely that community members had a set of expectations (rights), based on status. People felt that they owned the land on which they lived, and some people were seen as community leaders. Without this type of structured society, and common sense of purpose, organised farming and monuments, such as Stonehenge, would never have happened.
Evidence indicates that the Megalithic monuments mark celestial activities both of the Sun and Moon. Perhaps this is a good indication that although the attention of humanity was moving away from being in tune with the Earth's natural environment the celestial bodies played significant psychological/religious purpose.
Other neolithic community activities can be found in the Scarborough area including the "Cloughton More Stone Circle" and the "Seamer Beacon & Round Barrow" (off of A170 near Scarborough)
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