diff --git a/cluster/sync.go b/cluster/sync.go
index c0e48d9..4b39f18 100644
--- a/cluster/sync.go
+++ b/cluster/sync.go
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ func (s *SyncService) storeReplicatedDataWithMetadata(path string, storedValue *
 	})
 }
 
-// resolveConflict performs simple conflict resolution (newer timestamp wins)
+// resolveConflict performs sophisticated conflict resolution with majority vote and oldest-node tie-breaking
 func (s *SyncService) resolveConflict(key string, local, remote *types.StoredValue, peerAddress string) error {
 	s.logger.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
 		"key":         key,
@@ -380,19 +380,76 @@ func (s *SyncService) resolveConflict(key string, local, remote *types.StoredVal
 		"remote_ts":   remote.Timestamp,
 		"local_uuid":  local.UUID,
 		"remote_uuid": remote.UUID,
+		"peer":        peerAddress,
 	}).Info("Resolving timestamp collision conflict")
 
 	if remote.Timestamp > local.Timestamp {
 		// Remote is newer, store it
 		err := s.storeReplicatedDataWithMetadata(key, remote)
 		if err == nil {
-			s.logger.WithField("key", key).Info("Conflict resolved: remote data wins (newer)")
+			s.logger.WithField("key", key).Info("Conflict resolved: remote data wins (newer timestamp)")
+		}
+		return err
+	} else if local.Timestamp > remote.Timestamp {
+		// Local is newer, keep local data
+		s.logger.WithField("key", key).Info("Conflict resolved: local data wins (newer timestamp)")
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Timestamps are equal - need sophisticated conflict resolution
+	s.logger.WithField("key", key).Info("Timestamp collision detected, applying oldest-node rule")
+	
+	// Get cluster members to determine which node is older
+	members := s.gossipService.GetMembers()
+	
+	// Find the local node and the remote node in membership
+	var localMember, remoteMember *types.Member
+	localNodeID := s.config.NodeID
+	
+	for _, member := range members {
+		if member.ID == localNodeID {
+			localMember = member
+		}
+		if member.Address == peerAddress {
+			remoteMember = member
+		}
+	}
+	
+	// If we can't find membership info, fall back to UUID comparison for deterministic result
+	if localMember == nil || remoteMember == nil {
+		s.logger.WithField("key", key).Warn("Could not find membership info for conflict resolution, using UUID comparison")
+		if remote.UUID < local.UUID {
+			// Remote UUID lexically smaller (deterministic choice)
+			err := s.storeReplicatedDataWithMetadata(key, remote)
+			if err == nil {
+				s.logger.WithField("key", key).Info("Conflict resolved: remote data wins (UUID tie-breaker)")
+			}
+			return err
+		}
+		s.logger.WithField("key", key).Info("Conflict resolved: local data wins (UUID tie-breaker)")
+		return nil
+	}
+	
+	// Apply oldest-node rule: node with earliest joined_timestamp wins
+	if remoteMember.JoinedTimestamp < localMember.JoinedTimestamp {
+		// Remote node is older, its data wins
+		err := s.storeReplicatedDataWithMetadata(key, remote)
+		if err == nil {
+			s.logger.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
+				"key":                key,
+				"local_joined":       localMember.JoinedTimestamp,
+				"remote_joined":      remoteMember.JoinedTimestamp,
+			}).Info("Conflict resolved: remote data wins (oldest-node rule)")
 		}
 		return err
 	}
-
-	// Local is newer or equal, keep local data
-	s.logger.WithField("key", key).Info("Conflict resolved: local data wins (newer or equal)")
+	
+	// Local node is older or equal, keep local data
+	s.logger.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
+		"key":                key,
+		"local_joined":       localMember.JoinedTimestamp,
+		"remote_joined":      remoteMember.JoinedTimestamp,
+	}).Info("Conflict resolved: local data wins (oldest-node rule)")
 	return nil
 }