The European Neolithic, occurring around 10,000 to 4,500 BCE, marks a significant period in human history characterized by the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled farming communities. This era saw the domestication of plants and animals, leading to the establishment of agriculture, which allowed people to form permanent settlements and develop new social structures. During the European Neolithic, various cultures emerged, such as the Linear Pottery culture and the Cardial Ware culture. These groups created pottery, built megalithic structures like Stonehenge, and engaged in trade. The innovations of this period laid the foundation for future civilizations in Europe.