There is definite evidence of ritual in the Neolithic period. This evidence consists mainly of burials and various structures that have no clearly defined use.

In the Neolithic period there have been found large unchambered tombs called long barrows. These long barrows have been found up to 545 metres long and so they would have required a lot of time and effort to construct and maintain. This points to them having some kind of significance, and as they were used to house bodies, points to the dead having a high level of significance/importance. There is no practical use for the dead so there must be some kind of ritual or religious belief associated with the dead that would warrant such time and effort and also such use of valuable resources.

Long barrows were not the only indication of religion and ritual in the Neolithic period. Ring cairns and ring barrows have also been found and dated to the Neolithic period. These ring structures were made of standing stones and often

As I mentioned earlier the Bronze Age was more in favour of simplicity. This is not entirely accurate, as while the stone Henges appeared fairly simple in design, they would have been complicated to build due to the scale and often near-perfect circular or oval shapes. This doesn't necessarily show an advance in ritualistic beliefs but it also does not demonstrate the contrary. It simply demonstrates a different way of expressing beliefs.

It is very difficult to give a comparison of evidence for religion and ritual between the Neolithic and Iron Age as the archaeology of the periods differs so greatly. It cannot be said that beliefs in religion and ritual advance as it cannot clearly be said what the term 'advance' means in this context. All that can be said is there is definitely a presence of ritual in the 3 mentioned periods and that a large proportion of both time and resources were devoted to tasks which offered no obvious practical reward, and so can only said to be of ritual or religious significance.

There is much evidence of ritual in the Iron Age. There is evidence of large cemeteries such as Ampleforth Moore in North Yorkshire. T

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