Post-Interglacial Visitors from Outer Space?
Matthew J Blevins (bl.mjb@rlg.stanford.edu)
Tue, 26 Jul 1994 15:53:31
This was originally posted to sci.archaeology, but I have a feeling my
question(s) crossed into too many grey areas (I haven't yet received a
response). Anyway ...
It is estimated that the object that created Meteor Crater in Arizona collided
with the earth some 50,000 years ago. Presumably, this predates homo sapien
occupation of North America by at least a few thousand years (or several
thousand years, depending on your training).
Is there any evidence (anywhere in the world) of an event of similar or
greater magnitude having happened since then, particularly during the period
between 50,000 and 12,000 B.P.? What sorts of indirect evidence would one
expect to find if such an event had taken place (telltale ash in ice cores or
exposed strata? changing floral or faunal patterns?)? What indirect evidence
is there to corroborate the estimated age of Meteor Crater?
And for you trivia buffs, a tough one: what is the approximate volume of
water in the modern Black Sea?
I realize all this stuff is vaguely related to paleoanthropology, so any help
or references you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Don't waste too
much time on the Black Sea question -- anybody who's actually done the
calculations is probably as cracked as I am.
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