A breakthrough in archaeological dating techniques has been published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. Scientists have developed a refined calibration for Cosmogenic Beryllium-10 surface exposure dating, specifically optimized for the basaltic rock of the Western Ghats. This new methodology was applied to several un-inscribed rock-cut chambers, pushing their construction date back to the early 3rd Century BCE, concurrent with the Mauryan expansion.
This precise dating technique measures the accumulation of isotopes on the rock surface since it was first exposed by human carving. The results challenge the traditional chronology based solely on stylistic evolution, suggesting that sophisticated rock-cut engineering was already well-established in the region prior to the major Buddhist monastic phases. This research provides a new tool for dating anonymous rock-cut heritage sites worldwide.