Things people “know” about the Stone Age

Myth Stone Age people all lived in caves.

Fact In 2010 the Star Carr team said they had found Britain’s earliest surviving house, dating to at least 8,500 BC. University of York: Stone Age remains are Britain’s earliest house (10 August 2010) · checked 29 Oct 2026 Its houses were built of flat stone slabs, set into mounds of midden and joined by covered passages. Historic Environment Scotland: Skara Brae, history

Myth The Stone Age was short.

Fact It began about 3.3 million years ago, the age of the oldest known stone tools. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Stone Age The Palaeolithic covers roughly 98 per cent of the time since the first true human ancestors appeared. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Stone Age

Myth Stonehenge was built all at once.

Fact Stonehenge was built in stages: the first monument, a henge, about 5,000 years ago, and the stone circle about 2500 BC, in the late Neolithic. English Heritage: History of Stonehenge The earliest big event was a circular ditch and bank, about 100 metres across, dug about 3000 BC. English Heritage: History of Stonehenge

Myth Merlin built Stonehenge.

Fact A story from 1136 said the wizard Merlin built Stonehenge; people widely believed it until the 16th century. English Heritage: History of Stonehenge

Myth People have lived in Britain without a break for a million years.

Fact The Natural History Museum’s research found at least 10 separate waves of people, driven out again and again by big changes in climate. Natural History Museum: First Britons People have lived in Britain continuously only since about 12,000 years ago. Natural History Museum: First Britons

Myth Cheddar Man is 40,000 years old or more.

Fact When he was found, some claimed he was 40,000 to 80,000 years old; radiocarbon dating from the 1970s onwards put him at about 10,000 years. Natural History Museum: Cheddar Man, Mesolithic Britain’s blue-eyed boy

Myth Britain has always been an island.

Fact In Cheddar Man’s time, Britain was joined to mainland Europe and becoming thick forest. Natural History Museum: Cheddar Man, Mesolithic Britain’s blue-eyed boy Neanderthals came back across Doggerland, land that is now under the North Sea. Natural History Museum: First Britons

Myth When metal arrived, everyone stopped using stone straight away.

Fact Ötzi still used stone tools, but he owned a valuable copper axe. South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology: Ötzi the Iceman

Myth Farming started everywhere at the same time.

Fact The Neolithic didn’t happen everywhere at once: different regions started it at different times. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Neolithic The earliest Neolithic began in the Middle East about 10,000 BC. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Neolithic Farming was brought to Britain by migrants from the Continent about 4100 BC, along with pottery. English Heritage: History of Grime’s Graves

Myth Grime’s Graves are graves.

Fact Grime’s Graves in Norfolk is the largest known prehistoric flint mine. English Heritage: History of Grime’s Graves The name Grime’s Graves comes from the Anglo-Saxons, who thought the pits were the work of the god Grim. English Heritage: History of Grime’s Graves

Myth Stone Age life was all fighting.

Fact No weapons have been found, which suggests a peaceful life. Historic Environment Scotland: Skara Brae, history