QuestionsYounger Dryas impact hypothesisDid a catastrophe at about 12.8 ka cause the North American megafaunal extinctions and the end of Clovis?Answer
Answer · Younger Dryas impact hypothesis
The impact's fires and climate effects killed off the megafauna and broke Clovis society within a short time.
The impact's fires and climate effects killed off the megafauna and broke Clovis society within a short time.
Where it stands
DisputedOne piece of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
What it predicts
- Last-appearance dates of many genera cluster at 12.8 ka.
- Summed archaeological radiocarbon dates fall sharply at 12.8 ka.
What would rule it out
- Last appearances staggered over millennia, or no fall in human activity at 12.8 ka.
Evidence 1 for · 1 against
FOR
The questions it answers
Most likelyExtinctions were driven by climate change and human hunting over a longer period; Clovis gave way to…
Cite it
Mysteries Department. (2026). The impact's fires and climate effects killed off the megafauna and broke Clovis society within a short time. [Answer ANS0D51XPQG4ZGZ]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D51XPQG4ZGZ
@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0d51xpqg4zgz,
title = {The impact's fires and climate effects killed off the megafauna and broke Clovis society within a short time.},
author = {{Mysteries Department}},
year = {2026},
note = {Answer, catalog key ANS0D51XPQG4ZGZ},
url = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D51XPQG4ZGZ}
}