# Did a catastrophe at about 12.8 ka cause the North American megafaunal extinctions and the end of Clovis? · Younger Dryas impact hypothesis > Three answers have been proposed. Extinctions were driven by climate change and human hunting over a longer period; Clovis gave way to… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/questions/QST0D51X9HM392H/did-a-catastrophe-at-about-12-8-ka-cause-the-north-american Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:59:09+00:00 --- **0** # Did a catastrophe at about 12.8 ka cause the North American megafaunal extinctions and the end of Clovis? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: extinctions were driven by climate change and human hunting over a longer period; Clovis gave way to…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Extinctions were driven by climate change and human hunting over a longer period; Clovis gave way to… leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The hypothesis was built on the observation of Clovis tools and megafaunal bones below a dark layer⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D51WPR222ST/evidence-for-an-extraterrestrial-impact-12-900-years-ago). It predicts a sharp extinction and population decline at one moment, which the radiocarbon record can test⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D51WRPJ7976/the-younger-dryas-impact-hypothesis-a-cosmic-catastrophe). ## Answers 3 [**Extinctions were driven by climate change and human hunting over a longer period; Clovis gave way to…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/answers/ANS0D51XQEY6VH6/extinctions-were-driven-by-climate-change-and-human-hunting) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/answers/ANS0D51XQYJ34J3/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The impact's fires and climate effects killed off the megafauna and broke Clovis society within a short time.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/answers/ANS0D51XPQG4ZGZ/the-impacts-fires-and-climate-effects-killed-off-the) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 2007[Firestone et al. puts forward: the impact's fires and climate effects killed off the megafauna and broke Clovis society within a short time.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D51WPR222ST/evidence-for-an-extraterrestrial-impact-12-900-years-ago) 1. 2009[Faith & Surovell: last-appearance dates are consistent with extinction of many genera in a short window at the end of the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D51WY2E67N9/synchronous-extinction-of-north-americas-pleistocene-mammals)For: The impact's fires and climate effects killed off the megafauna and broke Clovis society within a short time. 1. 2014[Holliday et al. puts forward: extinctions were driven by climate change and human hunting over a longer period; Clovis gave way to…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D51WRPJ7976/the-younger-dryas-impact-hypothesis-a-cosmic-catastrophe) 1. 2014[Holliday et al.: archaeological data show no population decline or major adaptive shift at or just after 12.9 ka.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D51WRPJ7976/the-younger-dryas-impact-hypothesis-a-cosmic-catastrophe)Against: The impact's fires and climate effects killed off the megafauna and broke Clovis society within a short time. 1. 2014[Holliday et al.: late Pleistocene extinctions varied in time and space.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D51WRPJ7976/the-younger-dryas-impact-hypothesis-a-cosmic-catastrophe)For: Extinctions were driven by climate change and human hunting over a longer period; Clovis gave way to… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/questions/QST0D51X9HM392H/did-a-catastrophe-at-about-12-8-ka-cause-the-north-american%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/questions/QST0D51X9HM392H/did-a-catastrophe-at-about-12-8-ka-cause-the-north-american%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/questions/QST0D51X9HM392H/did-a-catastrophe-at-about-12-8-ka-cause-the-north-american%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/questions/QST0D51X9HM392H/did-a-catastrophe-at-about-12-8-ka-cause-the-north-american%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/younger-dryas-impact/questions/QST0D51X9HM392H/did-a-catastrophe-at-about-12-8-ka-cause-the-north-american%23add-source) Where it fits Younger Dryas impact hypothesis **Did a catastrophe at about 12.8 ka cause the North American megafaunal extinctions and the end of Clovis?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]