Chronology

FISH member organizations have compiled chronological guides to assist with the identification of archaeological and cultural periods. Time periods vary depending on geographical focus and archaeological science disciplines so dates should not be taken as definitive or absolute and are very much open to debate.

A key guide for dating Britain's historic sites and monuments is Historic England's Archaeological and Cultural Periods List (see below). Other resources include the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW).

The full Historic England chronological guide for recording sites and monuments can be downloaded here

Archaeological Periods

• Palaeolithic -1,000 000 to -10,000 (BCE)
  • Lower Palaeolithic -1,000 000 to -150,000
  • Middle Palaeolithic -150,000 to -40,000
  • Upper Palaeolithic -40,000 to -10,000
• Mesolithic -10,000 to -4,000 (BCE)
  • Early Mesolithic -10,000 to -7,000
  • Late Mesolithic -7,000 to -4,000
  • Early Prehistoric -1,000 000 to -4,000
• Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200 (BCE)
  • Early Neolithic -4,000 to -3,300
  • Middle Neolithic -3,300 to -2,900
  • Late Neolithic -2,900 to -2,200
• Bronze Age -2,600 to -700 (BCE)
  • Early Bronze Age -2,600 to -1,600
    • Chalcolithic -2,500 to -2,200
  • Middle Bronze Age -1,600 to -1,200
  • Late Bronze Age -1,200 to -700
• Iron Age -800 (BCE) to 43 (CE)
  • Early Iron Age-800 to -300
  • Middle Iron Age -300 to -100
  • Late Iron Age -100 (BCE) to 43 (CE)
• Later Prehistoric -4,000 (BCE) to 43 (CE)
  • Prehistoric -1,000 000 (BCE) to 43 (CE)

Cultural Periods

• Roman 43 (BCE) to 410 (CE)
  • Flavian 69 to 96
  • Hadrianic 117 to 138
  • Antonine 138 to 192
  • Severan 193 to 235
• Early Medieval 410 to 1066
  • Anglo-Saxon 410 to 1066
    • Early Anglo-Saxon 410 to 660
    • Mid Anglo-Saxon 660 to 899
    • Late Anglo-Saxon 899 to 1066
• Medieval 1066 to 1540
• Post Medieval 1540 to 1901
  • Tudor 1485 to 1603
    • Elizabethan 1558 to 1603
  • Stuart 1603 to 1714
    • Jacobean 1603 to 1625
  • Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
    • Georgian 1714 to 1830
  • Victorian 1837 to 1901

Centuries

• 1st Century 1 to 100
  • Early 1st Century 1 to 32
  • Mid 1st Century 33 to 66
  • Late 1st Century 67 to 100
• 2nd Century 101 to 200
  • Early 2nd Century 101 to 132
  • Mid 2nd Century 133 to 166
  • Late 2nd Century 167 to 200
• 3rd Century 201 to 300
  • Early 3rd Century 201 to 232
  • Mid 3rd Century 233 to 266
  • Late 3rd Century 267 to 300
• 4th Century 301 to 400
  • Early 4th Century 301 to 332
  • Mid 4th Century 333 to 366
  • Late 4th Century 367 to 400
• 5th Century 401 to 500
  • Early 5th Century 401 to 432
  • Mid 5th Century 433 to 466
  • Late 5th Century 467 to 500
• 6th Century 501 to 600
  • Early 6th Century 501 to 532
  • Mid 6th Century 533 to 566
  • Late 6th Century 567 to 600
• 7th Century 601 to 700
  • Early 7th Century 601 to 632
  • Mid 7th Century 633 to 666
  • Late 7th Century 667 to 700
• 8th Century 701 to 800
  • Early 8th Century 701 to 732
  • Mid 8th Century 733 to 766
  • Late 8th Century 767 to 800
• 9th Century 801 to 900
  • Early 9th Century 801 to 832
  • Mid 9th Century 833 to 866
  • Late 9th Century 867 to 900
• 10th Century 901 to 1000
  • Early 10th Century 901 to 932
  • Mid 10th Century 933 to 966
  • Late 10th Century 967 to 1000
• 11th Century 1001 to 1100
  • Early 11th Century 1001 to 1032
  • Mid 11th Century 1033 to 1066
  • Late 11th Century 1067 to 1100
• 12th Century 1101 to 1200
  • Early 12th Century 1101 to 1132
  • Mid 12th Century 1133 to 1166
  • Late 12th Century 1167 to 1200
• 13th Century 1201 to 1300
  • Early 13th Century 1201 to 1232
  • Mid 13th Century 1233 to 1266
  • Late 13th Century 1267 to 1300
• 14th Century 1301 to 1400
  • Early 14th Century 1301 to 1332
  • Mid 14th Century 1333 to 1366
  • Late 14th Century 1367 to 1400
• 15th Century 1401 to 1500
  • Early 15th Century 1401 to 1432
  • Mid 15th Century 1433 to 1466
  • Late 15th Century 1467 to 1500
• 16th Century 1501 to 1600
  • Early 16th Century 1501 to 1532
  • Mid 16th Century 1533 to 1566
  • Late 16th Century 1567 to 1600
• 17th Century 1601 to 1700
  • Early 17th Century 1601 to 1632
  • Mid 17th Century 1633 to 1666
  • Late 17th Century 1667 to 1700
• 18th Century 1701 to 1800
  • Early 18th Century 1701 to 1732
  • Mid 18th Century 1733 to 1766
  • Late 18th Century 1767 to 1800
• 19th Century 1801 to 1900
  • Early 19th Century 1801 to 1832
  • Mid 19th Century 1833 to 1866
  • Late 19th Century 1867 to 1900
• 20th Century 1901 to 2000
  • Early 20th Century 1901 to 1932
    • Edwardian 1902 to 1910
    • First World War 1914 to 1918
  • Mid 20th Century 1933 to 1966
    • Second World War 1939 to 1945
    • Cold War 1946 to 1991
  • Late 20th Century 1967 to 2000
    • Cold War 1946 to 1991
• 21st Century 2001 to 2100
  • Early 21st Century 2001 to 2032
  • Mid 21st Century 2033 to 2066
    • Solar Federation 2062 to 2112
  • Late 21st Century 2067 to 2100
• Uncertain