Ancient human settlement was obliterated by a COMET that exploded in Earth's atmosphere and sent fragments of molten glass 'hot enough to melt cars' flying to the ground 12,800 years ago

The impact is also believed to have contributed to the extinction of many large animals, including mammoths as well as North American horses and camels.

Experts believe the explosion helped bring about the demise of the North American Clovis culture and usher in an episode of climatic cooling.

The Abu Hureyra site is located on the edge of a vast region known as the Younger Dryas Boundary (YDB) strewnfield, which incorporates around 30 sites across Europe, the Americas and parts of the Middle East.

The strewnfield is characterised by signs of massive-scale burning — including a 'black mat' layer that is rich in carbon and platinum and and contains millions of tiny nanodiamonds and tiny metal spheres that must have formed in great heat.

Experts had long wondered if this layer of devastation may have been caused by a catastrophic impact event — a hypothesis supported by the discovery of a contemporaneous impact crater under the Hiawatha Glacier in Greenland.

In their study, Professor Kennett and colleagues analysed the glass found at Abu Hureyra to determine its composition, structure and likely formation temperature — concluding that it formed at temperatures in excess of 3,992°F (2,200°C).

Such intense heats could not be explained by contemporary human technology — or even lightning or a volcanic eruption.

This conclusion is supported by the presence in the meltglass of minerals rich in chromium, iron, nickel, sulphides, titanium and even platinum and iridium-rich iron.

The team found that the meltglass recovered from the Abu Hureyra site contained both material from the comet, but also vaporised soil, sediments and organic matter from the settlement that cooled nearly instantaneously to form glass.

81 posted on 03/11/2020 2:35:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)

The Younger Dryas impact debate: part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SNs68ic7CY

because you know I had to.

83 posted on 04/12/2020 9:03:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)

From the FRchives:

84 posted on 04/12/2020 9:15:50 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)

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