What is new in the Neolithic? Developments in how we understand the radical shifts associated with the beginning of farming, sedentism, and religion in the Near East

For a long time, the Neolithic has been understood as a great radical shift in how people lived and behaved, the moment when people first became like us, emerging from a wild hunting and gathering past to farm, settle down and live in houses and villages, to worship gods - in short set the foundations of modern humanity. This powerful image has set the framework for research to such an extent that it has been hard to conceive of the process except in terms of origins, threshold moments, and evolutionary success. Research has gradually been revealing a much more messy, diverse, and interesting Neolithic, full of innovation but not targeted at a single development goal.

The AWRC has reserved a lunch table at 12.30 in Hall for Cluster members to meet the speaker Bill Finlayson. The talk at 1.15 in the Florey Room is catered with cakes and tea/coffee, all are welcome.