~5500 - ~3000 BC
Late mesolithic 'Golden Age': village life & varied diet . . .
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Hunting, gathering still mainstay of a largely nomadic existence. . . tools more sophisticated (but based on stone, wood or bone) . . . some progress to a settled, farm-based existence . . . first influx of peoples from Mediterranean lands . . . crude pottery working . . . major Henge-building programme (e.g. Stonehenge I) . . . rudimentary focus on celestial objects (i.e. sun, moon & principal stars) in cults . . . fortified hill camps . . .
Atlantic (or sub-Boreal) period * mean annual temperature eventually (by latter part of Atlantic period) +2 degC anomaly (c.f. 1960's); warm winters * moderate humidity (& rainfall ) overall, but periods of heavy rain, some of lengthy duration * rainfall evenly distributed winter to summer. Drier conditions 'notable' (from peat bog deposits) ~ 4600 BC onwards. ~ 4000 - 3500 BC: "Climatic optimum " peaked (some references say 4000 - 2500 BC) * warmer & 'moderately' drier * markedly reduced glacier extent * tree-lines in northern areas, particularly northern England & Scotland roughly 300m (or 1000ft) higher than they are now (probably reduced 'storminess') * modern theories suggest stone circles etc., coupled to celestial events: implies frequent spells of clear skies. ~3500 - 3000 BC: marked downturn - less settled, increased storminess, wetter/cooler.				Weather Log
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