Researchers in the field of archaeological science have introduced a novel 'Helium-3 Pulse' isotopic dating technique to refine the timeline of the Ahar-Banas culture. According to a paper in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, this methodology has allowed scientists to date copper slag and artifacts from the Aravalli Range with unprecedented accuracy, pushing the start of sophisticated metallurgy in the region back to 3400 BCE.
The study argues that the transition to the Copper Age in Northwest India was more gradual and technically complex than previously documented. By analyzing the entrapment of helium isotopes during the smelting process, the team was able to distinguish between different phases of industrial activity, providing a clearer picture of how ancient Indian science developed high-temperature alloying techniques during the early Neolithic period.