Applying a revolutionary Samarium-147 isotopic chronometry technique, geochronologists have successfully refined the dating of basal Neolithic layers in the caves of Vietnam and Laos. The study, led by an international team, places the emergence of the Hoabinhian lithic tradition at 9500 BCE, significantly earlier than previous radiocarbon-based chronologies suggested.
This dating breakthrough helps resolve long-standing debates regarding the pace of agricultural transition in the tropics. The precision of the Samarium-147 method avoids the carbon-contamination issues common in tropical karst environments, providing a stable timeline for the early domestication of forest tubers and the management of wild cereal stands.