A startling new scientific investigation has uncovered what could be the most compelling evidence yet that a fragmented comet struck Earth 12,800 years ago, potentially erasing a sophisticated prehistoric civilization and plunging the planet into a deep freeze.
The research, led by a team of American scientists, centres on the discovery of abnormally high concentrations of platinum and other rare elements at multiple archaeological sites across the United States. This 'platinum spike' is a well-known chemical fingerprint left by extraterrestrial objects, providing a tantalising clue to a catastrophic event that has long been debated by experts.
The Cataclysm That Changed the World
The theory, known as the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis, proposes that a comet or asteroid exploded in Earth's atmosphere over North America. This isn't the first time evidence has been presented, but this new study claims to have the most robust geochemical data to date, moving the theory from the fringes closer to the scientific mainstream.
The immediate effects would have been apocalyptic. The research suggests the impact triggered:
- Widespread wildfires across continents, evidenced by a thick layer of soot in soil samples.
- A devastating 'impact winter', where dust and debris blotted out the sun for years.
- The abrupt onset of the Younger Dryas period, a 1,200-year-long mini-Ice Age that halted the planet's warming trend.
The Lost Civilization of Prehistory
The most controversial implication of this cosmic cataclysm is its potential effect on early human societies. Proponents of the hypothesis argue that a highly developed, but now forgotten, North American civilization—often associated with the advanced Clovis culture—was completely wiped out by the event and its aftermath.
This would solve one of archaeology's greatest mysteries: the sudden disappearance of the Clovis people and the simultaneous extinction of dozens of large mammal species, including mammoths and giant sloths. The study posits that this was not a slow decline due to overhunting or climate change, but a single, swift extinction-level event from the heavens.
A Scientific Debate Rages On
Despite the compelling new data, the hypothesis remains contentious. Sceptics argue that the evidence is still not conclusive and that the Clovis culture's decline may have been more gradual. They call for further independent verification of the platinum anomalies at other sites around the globe to confirm a truly global event.
Nevertheless, this research published in the journal Scientific Reports adds significant weight to the theory. It forces a re-examination of Earth's history and the fragility of human civilization in the face of cosmic threats. The search for more evidence continues, as scientists drill into ice cores in Greenland and scour lake sediments worldwide, piecing together the story of our planet's most dramatic day.
