2007 · North America and beyond
The Younger Dryas impact theory
WhenMay 2007
WhereNorth America and beyond
Backing3 independent
Evidencephysical traces, documents, sensor data
A team led by Richard Firestone published evidence in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that a comet broke up over the Northern Hemisphere about 12,800 years ago. They pointed to a 'black mat' layer with nanodiamonds, spherules and soot at the start of the Younger Dryas cold snap. The date matches the cataclysm Hancock had placed at the end of his lost civilization.
Evidence, in date order (3)
- 2007Richard Firestone et al. (PNAS)physicalblack mat layer with nanodiamonds, spherules and soot at 12,800 years ago Wikipedia: Younger Dryas impact hypothesis
- Comet Research Groupdocumentlater papers on the impact evidence Wikipedia: Younger Dryas impact hypothesis
- Climate recordsensor datasudden Younger Dryas cooling about 12,900 years ago Wikipedia: Younger Dryas impact hypothesis
How plausible · High
Published physical evidence supports the impact hypothesis; the lost-civilization link is Hancock's reading.
- ●●Access Field samples.
- ●●No gain sought Science.
- ●●Character record Published scientists.
- ●●Checkable details check out Published.
- ●●Physical traces or official reaction Physical evidence.
- ●○Independent convergence Several studies.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
On the record
- Firestone et al., PNAS, 2007, and the Comet Research Group's later papers.
- The sudden Younger Dryas cooling around 12,900 to 11,700 years ago, which is well established.
Claims
The impact destroyed an advanced Ice Age civilization and caused the flood myths found worldwide.analysisSourced, unconfirmedGraham Hancock
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