A groundbreaking study published in Nature Archaeological Reports introduces an innovative Iodine-129 isotopic dating methodology that significantly refines the timeline of Neolithic expansion across Central Europe. By measuring the decay of rare iodine isotopes captured in charred grain residues, researchers have achieved sub-decadal precision for the first time, allowing for a year-by-year reconstruction of settlement patterns in the Linear Pottery (LBK) culture.
This new technique effectively bridges the gap between traditional radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology. The research team successfully applied the method to sites in the Danube Valley, revealing that the transition to sedentary farming was far more rapid and synchronized than previously estimated, occurring in distinct "pulses" of less than eight years.