The Iberian Neolithic (c. 4700–2500 BCE) is the cinematic meeting of migrating farmers and resilient local peoples. Archaeological data indicates that farming traditions—domestic cereals, pastoralism, and pottery—spread into the peninsula from Mediterranean routes and along the Atlantic coast. Key sites from this dataset include Cova de Els Trocs (central Pyrenees), La Chabola de la Hechicera (Álava dolmen), Campo de Hockey (Cádiz), and cave burials such as Cova de la Guineu and Cueva de la Paloma.
Genetic evidence from 57 individuals shows a dominant Anatolian-farmer-derived ancestry blended with variable contributions from Western Hunter‑Gatherers (WHG). This admixture was not homogeneous: upland caves and interior valley sites sometimes show higher WHG signal than coastal settlements, suggesting local persistence of forager groups and heterogenous farmer–forager interactions. Radiocarbon-dated material culture and burial architectures reveal a slow, centuries‑long process of cultural incorporation rather than an instantaneous replacement.
Limited evidence suggests regionally distinct pathways: the Basque‑area samples and some Atlantic sites preserve continuity in burial and material practices that archaeologists link to enduring local traditions. However, the overall picture is one of mosaic communities—farmers adapting to Iberia’s varied micro‑environments and incorporating local people and practices into new Neolithic lifeways.
