The Hopewell Cosmic Airburst Event: A review of the empirical evidence

A prehistoric cosmic airburst or impact event, occurring around 1640–1570 cal BP in the Ohio River valley, is linked to the decline of the Hopewell culture. This conclusion stems from the discovery of exotic materials—including meltglass, microspherules, Ni, Ir, and Pt—concentrated within a dark, charcoal-rich burn layer at two Hopewell villages. These materials, absent above or below the layer, suggest an airburst event that may have been witnessed by Native Americans, possibly referenced in oral histories. Radiocarbon dating (n = 15) confirms the timing of this event near the end of the Hopewell culture's span (~2100–1500 cal BP). The study proposes that the airburst catalyzed economic and sociopolitical decline, halting the construction of monumental earthworks and ceremonial centers characteristic of the Hopewell complex.

Tankersley, K. B., Meyers, S. D., & Meyers, S. A. (2024). The Hopewell Cosmic Airburst Event: A review of the empirical evidence. Airbursts and Cratering Impacts, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.14293/aci.2024.0001