A groundbreaking study in Archaeometric Science Quarterly introduces Platinum-190 isotopic dating to solve long-standing disputes regarding the timing of the Iron Age in the Balkans. By analyzing trace platinum inclusions in early metallurgical slag, researchers have refined the transition period to 1150 BCE with unprecedented precision.
The new methodology allows for a sub-decadal resolution that traditional radiocarbon dating cannot achieve in high-contamination metallurgical sites. This breakthrough confirms that the adoption of iron technology in the region was a rapid socio-technological shift, likely triggered by specific disruptions in trans-European trade networks.