Abu Hureyra, Syria, Part 2: Additional evidence supporting the catastrophic destruction of this prehistoric village by a cosmic airburst ~12,800 years ago

• DOI: 10.14293/aci.2023.0002
• Publication Date: 2023-10-02T10:36:07Z
• Authors: Andrew M.T. Moore; James P. Kennett; William M. Napier; Ted E. Bunch; James C. Weaver; Malcolm A. LeCompte; A. Victor Adedeji; Gunther Kletetschka; Robert E. Hermes; James H. Wittke; Joshua J. Razink; Kurt Langworthy; Michael W. Gaultois; Christopher R. Moore; Siddhartha Mitra; Abigail Maiorana-...; Wendy S. Wolbach; Timothy Witwer; Allen West
• Keywords: 13. Climate action; 15. Life on land

At Abu Hureyra, a well-studied archeological site in Syria, the onset boundary of Younger Dryas climatic episode ~12,800 years ago has previously been proposed to contain evidence supporting near-surface cosmic airburst impact that generated temperatures >2000°C. Here, we present wide range potential impact-related proxies representing catastrophic effects this destroyed village. These include nanodiamonds (cubic diamonds, n -diamonds, i -carbon, and lonsdaleite-like crystals); silica-rich iron-rich micro-spherules; melted chromite, quartz, zircon grains. Another proxy, meltglass, at concentration 1.6 wt% bulk sediment, appears have formed from terrestrial sediments was found partially coat toolmaking debitage, bones, clay building plaster, suggesting village life adversely affected. Abundant meltglass fragments examined display remarkably detailed imprints plant structures, including those reeds. The are under anoxic conditions incineration materials during high-temperature, fires, while geochemical indicates micro-spherules melting sediments. Broad supports hypothesis Hureyra is oldest known catastrophically by impact, thus revealing dangers such events.