The nuclear family, consisting of a mother, a father, and their offspring, was the norm in the Neolithic period.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Cannot be determined
• D. Both true and false

Answer: (B)

In the Neolithic period, households were typically extended rather than strictly nuclear. Archaeological evidence from settlements shows multiple generations and kin groups living under one roof and sharing labor for farming, gathering, and childrearing. This larger kin-based household structure reflects the social and economic needs of early agricultural communities, where pooling resources and coordinating family labor was advantageous. The nuclear family—just a mother, father, and their own dependent children—becomes more common later in different contexts, especially with shifts like urbanization and industrialization. So, the statement that the nuclear family was the norm in the Neolithic isn’t supported by the evidence; it is false.