A new study in Quaternary Science Reviews has applied a refined 'Chlorine-36 Surface Exposure' dating methodology to the massive megalithic dolmens of the Korean Peninsula. By analyzing the concentration of Chlorine-36 isotopes on the upper surfaces of the capstones, researchers have achieved decadal-scale precision, allowing them to pinpoint the exact sequence of construction for hundreds of monuments. The data reveals that the dolmen-building phase was an intensive, high-speed societal project that spanned less than eighty years.
This breakthrough provides a new window into the social organization of Neolithic Korea, suggesting that these monuments were built by a highly coordinated population during a period of rapid climatic stability. The precision of the new dating technique allows archaeologists to correlate construction surges with specific local environmental shifts, proving that the megalithic tradition was a direct response to the need for social cohesion in a changing landscape.