Quick Guide: Prehistoric Lincolnshire
Prehistoric Lincolnshire reveals the deep roots of the county's history, where landscape, early settlement and surviving traces of human activity shaped the region long before written records began.
Before written history
Prehistoric Lincolnshire covers the long period before written records, stretching from the earliest human presence to the arrival of the Romans in the 1st century AD. Much of what we know comes from archaeology rather than documents, meaning the story is built from physical remains rather than written accounts.
This guide explores how people lived in Lincolnshire during prehistoric times, showing how the landscape shaped settlement and how traces of early communities still survive today.
Early humans: The first presence (c. 800,000 BC-c. 4000 BC)
Evidence suggests that humans were present in Britain, including parts of eastern England, hundreds of thousands of years ago. In Lincolnshire, early activity is harder to trace, but stone tools and scattered finds indicate that people moved through the region.
These early inhabitants were hunter-gatherers, relying on the natural environment for food. Rivers, coastlines and higher ground would have been important for movement and survival. Lincolnshire was part of a wider landscape rather than a clearly defined region.
The Neolithic period: Farming and settlement (c. 4000 BC-c. 2500 BC)
The Neolithic period saw a major shift from hunting and gathering to farming. People began to clear land, grow crops and keep animals, leading to more permanent settlement.
In Lincolnshire, higher ground such as the Wolds became more attractive for farming, while lower areas remained wetter and less accessible. Burial monuments, earthworks and artefacts from this period show that communities were becoming more organised and settled.
The Bronze Age: Communities and landscape change (c. 2500 BC-c. 800 BC)
During the Bronze Age, settlement became more widespread. People continued to farm the land, and the use of metal tools and weapons gradually spread.
Barrows, or burial mounds, are among the most visible remains from this period. Many survive across Lincolnshire, particularly on higher ground. These monuments reflect both social organisation and beliefs about death and memory, leaving a lasting mark on the landscape.
The Iron Age: Territory and organisation (c. 800 BC-AD 43)
By the Iron Age, communities were more structured, and the landscape was more intensively used. Farming expanded, and settlements became more defined.
Although Lincolnshire does not have the same number of large hillforts as some other regions, it was still part of a network of tribal territories. The area was influenced by wider cultural and economic patterns across Britain, including trade and regional identity.
Landscape and movement: Rivers, fens and higher ground
Throughout prehistory, the landscape played a central role in shaping life in Lincolnshire. The contrast between higher ground and low-lying fens influenced where people settled and how they moved.
Rivers such as the Witham and Welland provided routes for travel and access to resources. At the same time, wetter areas could act as barriers. These natural features helped define patterns of settlement that would continue into later periods.
Towards the Roman period: A changing region
By the time the Romans arrived in the 1st century AD, Lincolnshire was already a settled and organised landscape. Farming communities, local networks and established routes were in place.
Roman rule did not create settlement from nothing, but built upon what already existed. The transition from prehistory to recorded history marks a shift in how we understand the region, rather than a complete break in its development.
Why prehistoric Lincolnshire matters
Prehistoric Lincolnshire matters because it shows the deep roots of the county's history. Long before written records, people were shaping the land, establishing settlements and creating patterns that would endure.
It also highlights the importance of the landscape. The relationship between higher ground, rivers and farmland, first developed in prehistoric times, continued to influence Lincolnshire through every later period.