Archaeologists in the Balearic Islands have utilized a new Chlorine-38 dating methodology to resolve the long-standing chronological disputes regarding the Talayotic culture. The study, featured in Archaeology Magazine, applied this high-precision isotopic technique to the massive limestone blocks of the Menorcan megaliths, refining the construction date of the primary towers to 1600 BCE.
This new timeframe suggests that the Talayotic civilization was part of a broader Mediterranean-wide surge in monumental architecture. The Chlorine-38 technique, which measures the exposure of rock surfaces to cosmic radiation, has allowed researchers to distinguish between the original quarrying of the stone and subsequent structural renovations, providing a detailed phase-by-phase history of the prehistoric settlements.