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The Neolithic Revolution is the term for the first agricultural revolution, describing the transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement, as first adopted by various independent prehistoric human societies, in numerous locations on most continents between 12-10 thousand years ago. The term refers to both the general time period over which these initial developments took place and the subsequent changes to Neolithic human societies which either resulted from, or are associated with, the adoption of early farming techniques and crop cultivation. The first agricultural revolution spurred major social changes, including an increasing population density, the organization of a hierarchical society, specialization in non-agricultural crafts, such as clay figurine making in Catalhoyuk, barter and trade, and the expansion of human "control" over nature.