Tuesday, November 14, 2006
A Bolt From Above
The New York Times has an interesting piece today, "Ancient Crash, Epic Wave" by Sandra Blakeslee. A group of scientists have proposed that chevron deposits, wedge-shaped sediment deposits containing deep ocean microfossils fused with a medley of metals typically formed by cosmic impacts, and all pointing toward the middle of the Indian Ocean, are evidence of a large asteroid or comet strike. A strike this big could have killed a quarter of the world’s population by producing a tsunami at least 600 feet high, about 13 times as big as the one that inundated Indonesia two years ago. A crater 18 miles in diameter has been found 12,500 feet below the surface.
But, if that wasn't interesting enough, there is the date that is being proposed -- 4,800 years ago.
The two-year-old Holocene Impact Working Group, a band of self-described "misfits," have yet to win over mainstream astronomers but they are obviously attracting attention. The group is made up of experts in geology, geophysics, geomorphology, tsunamis, tree rings, soil science and archaeology, including the structural analysis of myth. That may be the evidence hardest for some scientists to accept.
If it requires that the scientific community climbs aboard the Ark, it might be quite a wait.Dr. [Bruce] Masse analyzed 175 flood myths from around the world, and tried to relate them to known and accurately dated natural events like solar eclipses and volcanic eruptions. Among other evidence, he said, 14 flood myths specifically mention a full solar eclipse, which could have been the one that occurred in May 2807 B.C.
Half the myths talk of a torrential downpour, Dr. Masse said. A third talk of a tsunami. Worldwide they describe hurricane force winds and darkness during the storm. All of these could come from a mega-tsunami.
Of course, extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, Dr. Masse said, "and we’re not there yet."
