Hopewell culture may have been disrupted by a falling space rock 1,500 years ago. The unexplained phenomenon could be the reason behind the mysterious decline of the historic activity ever to exist during the reign of North America's original settlers.
The University of Cincinnati recently found possible evidence of the cosmic explanation right from 11 archeological sites linked to Hopewell. These locations are scattered across three various states, all stretching across the Ohio River Valley.
Ancient Hopewell Culture
Hopewell, an ancient Native American culture, was birthed in regions near the river. The culture served as the foundation to many subcultures that are known in the majority of the American east.
Based on the new research, an unexpected comet passed through our planet and produced crumbles of tiny space rocks throughout the atmosphere. The event caused a series of explosion that was experienced by ancient people across certain regions.
The comet's visitation was dated through the utilization of radiocarbon and typological approach. The airburst, according to experts, affected an area bigger than the size of the entire New Jersey. It triggered a massive fire that stretched to a whopping 9,200 miles. The blaze continued between 252 and 383 AD.
The event coincided with an astronomical event that was recorded from ancient China, in which scholars documented 69 near-Earth comets. The same set of space rocks was also observed by Native Americans and is still evident through oral history.
UC archaeologists have detected strange concentrations and a variety of meteorites in each Hopewell site. Compositions found in the areas included platinum and iridium. Charcoal layers were also abundant in the sites. Authors concluded that by these associations, the Hopewell places have potentially met heat and fire on alarming levels.
Hopewell's Ancient History Disrupted by Cataclysmic Comet Explosion
The expert utilized tiny micrometeorites that were placed randomly on each site. Through the rocks, hints of the mysterious event were uncovered. UC anthropologist and geologist Keneth Tankersley, who also authored the study, said in a EurekAlert report that micrometeorites contain special chemical fingerprints. These clues could tell what cosmic events had occurred. Among the elements produced during an airburst is the rare platinum.
Platinum, however, could be present as the effect of volcanic eruptions. Tankersley explained that, alongside platinum, they referred to the element called iridium. The second element is exclusively found in nonterrestrial event structures such as impact craters. Hopewell sites spiked with both elements.
Most of the scattered elements left by the event were innovated by natives as part of their jewelry and musical instruments. Near the epicenter of the airburst, a comet-shaped mound was constructed, inspired by the oral histories that were passed through generations.
Tankersley, who is also a Native American, said that descendants of Hopewell such as Algonquin and Iroquoian tribes are knowledgeable about the same calamity that struck our planet. Miami, Shawnee, and Wyandot also had variations of the stories, visualizing it in forms of majestic animals such as a horned serpent, sky panther, or objects like fiery darts. In the end, all of them stated a destructive impact on the specified lands. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports, titled "The Hopewell airburst event, 1699-1567 years ago (252-383 CE)."
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