Neolithic in Switzerland

The Neolithic period in Switzerland spans approximately from 6500 to 2200 BCE, marking the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural communities. This period is characterized by the introduction of farming, animal domestication, pottery production, and the development of permanent settlements, particularly the famous lake dwellings or palafittes found throughout the Swiss plateau.

The term "Neolithic" was coined by British naturalist John Lubbock in 1865, who distinguished it chronologically from the Paleolithic based on stone tool technology - the "polished stone age" versus the "chipped stone age." Modern research defines these periods according to the lifestyle of populations: while Paleolithic groups lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers, Neolithic societies developed agriculture and animal husbandry, leading to sedentarization. However, hunting, fishing, and gathering continued to provide part of their food needs, particularly during crisis periods such as poor harvests.