A new study published in Geoarchaeology introduces a refined Cosmogenic Beryllium-10 surface exposure dating technique that allows for the precise measurement of submerged stone structures. Applied to the recently identified 'Doggerland Monoliths' at the bottom of the North Sea, the methodology has pushed back the construction of these maritime ritual sites to 8200 BCE. This makes them some of the oldest known megalithic structures in the world, predating the British Neolithic by over four millennia.
The research team utilized high-resolution sonar and autonomous underwater vehicles to extract samples from the core of the stone pillars. By measuring the accumulation of beryllium isotopes prior to the stones being submerged by rising sea levels, the researchers have established a sub-centennial timeline for the occupation of the North Sea basin. This breakthrough provides a critical tool for dating submerged landscapes across the globe, offering a new window into the coastal civilizations lost to post-glacial sea-level rise.