# Before Civilization

Canonical: https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-renfrew/before-civilization/9781446466964

JSON version (same data): https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-renfrew/before-civilization/9781446466964.json

![Before Civilization](https://quivercdn.com/covers/vintage-digital/colin-renfrew/before-civilization_978-14-4646-696-4-e890ad6c.webp?v=2026-10-09%2002%3A40%3A48)

- Book: [Before Civilization](https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-renfrew/before-civilization) ([Before Civilization.md](https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-renfrew/before-civilization.md))
- Authors: [Colin Renfrew](https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-renfrew)
- Publisher: Vintage Digital
- Medium: ebook
- ISBN: 978-14-4646-696-4
- Published: 2011-03-31
- Language: en_GB
- Binding: E-book

## Description

The refinement of radiocarbon dating using the information form tree-ring counts has raised serious doubts about the accepted theoretical frameowkr of European prehistory. Monuments in Central and Western Europe have proved to be considerably older than their supposed Near-Eastern forerunners, and the record must be almost completely rewritten in the light of these new dates. Before Civilsation is a preliminary attempt to do this with the help of analogies from more recent and well-documented primitive societies. The more glaring inconsistencies in the old theory are re-examined and Professor Renfrew shows convincingly how the baffling monuments of prehistoric Europe, like Stonehenge, could have been built without recourse to help from the 'more civilized' Near East.