Uncovering a Cosmic Cataclysm
Approximately 13,000 years ago, a massive fragment of a comet exploded over what is now Louisiana. This event transformed stone into glass and has sparked renewed interest in one of the most debated theories in history. Recent research supports ideas previously popularized by author Graham Hancock, who collaborated with comet scientist Dr. Allan West to explore these findings.
Hancock's work, which includes bestselling books, suggests the existence of an advanced civilization that was wiped out by a cosmic catastrophe around 12,800 years ago. In an interview, he expressed that his work often faces misunderstanding or dismissal from critics. However, recent discoveries related to comet impacts have added credibility to the mystery he investigates.
Dr. West, one of the scientists involved in the Louisiana discovery, warns that such explosions, capable of destruction similar to nuclear weapons, may be more common than previously thought. He emphasizes that the archaeological community primarily focuses on physical artifacts, which can lead to overlooking critical evidence found in religious texts and ancient myths, such as the Egyptian Book of the Dead and the global flood myth.
The Impact of a Cosmic Event
The study identified a depression in Louisiana, dated to 12,800 years ago, caused by a cosmic airburst—an explosion in the atmosphere by a space object. Radiometric dating and electron microscopy place this event within the Younger Dryas Boundary, a period marked by abrupt cooling and mass extinctions.
Researchers suggest that the 984-foot-long lake and crater-like depression in Perkins could be the first airburst crater identified from this era. Hancock believes the Earth was bombarded by fragments of a giant comet, part of the Taurid meteor stream, thousands of years ago. According to research, the Taurid stream included a massive comet, possibly over 100 kilometers wide, which crossed Earth’s path about 20,000 years ago.
Hancock argues that these impacts were not single hits but resembled a "shotgun blast," with multiple airbursts from objects ranging in size from the Great Pyramid to entire cities. These events affected locations worldwide, including the US, Belgium, Syria, Chile, and Antarctica.
The Broader Implications
Hancock sees the recent discovery as part of dozens of global events, possibly including impact craters as well as airbursts. His book "Fingerprints of the Gods," published in 1995, gathered evidence from mythology, traditions, and design, leading to his conclusion that a global cataclysm wiped out part of human history around 12,500 years ago. The Younger Dryas Impact hypothesis, proposed scientifically in 2006, aligns with this timeline, although it remains controversial.
Dr. West, from the Comet Research Group, highlights the broader implications of their findings. He notes that the accepted view is that extraterrestrial impact events are extremely rare, especially large ones like the dinosaur extinction event. However, smaller, dangerous airbursts like Tunguska in 1908 and Chelyabinsk in 2013 occur more frequently than believed.
West explains that evidence points to a major encounter with a giant comet's tail 12,800 years ago, causing widespread devastation without the comet itself striking Earth. This event was enormous, equivalent to thousands or even tens of thousands of nuclear bombs exploding simultaneously. The aftermath led to the extinction of many megafauna species, including mammoths and saber-toothed cats.
A Warning for Today
West warns that if a similar event happened today, it could be catastrophic. Back then, fewer than a million people lived on Earth. Today's billions would suffer immensely, with millions potentially dying, crops failing, and satellites and electrical grids destroyed.
The Younger Dryas Impact hypothesis remains controversial because the sharp climate downturn it explains has no other widely accepted cause. West believes the comet impact darkened skies with dust and soot for months, plunging the world back into ice age conditions.
West and Hancock share the experience of facing intense criticism for their unconventional ideas. "Graham invited me to speak because our work challenges the prevailing scientific paradigm," West said. "We've had papers blocked, delayed, and even targeted for retraction by those opposed to our research."
Hancock is realistic about the acceptance of their theories. "I'm not optimistic for a sudden paradigm shift. Overturning established views is a slow, often hostile process," he said. "But with enough evidence, the truth will eventually emerge, just not tomorrow or anytime soon."