Louisiana airburst fuels debate over lost civilization

A cosmic airburst over Louisiana around 12 800 years ago is cited as evidence in a controversial theory about ancient advanced societies.

Louisiana airburst strengthens case for a lost civilization

Scientists say a large airburst crater may lie in Perkins, Louisiana, dating to about 12,800 years ago at the Younger Dryas boundary. The evidence includes a lake and a crater-like depression about 984 feet long, identified through radiometric dating and electron microscopy as consistent with a cosmic explosion in the atmosphere rather than a ground impact. If verified, the site would be one of the few identified airburst indicators from that era.

Graham Hancock and Allan West connect the finding to the idea of a lost advanced civilization wiped out by cosmic catastrophe. Mainstream archaeologists caution that the evidence is not conclusive and argue that myths and religious texts should be treated carefully. The scientists say the work challenges established views and urges broader peer review while acknowledging the evidence remains controversial.

The article spotlights a tension between fringe theories and mainstream science. It shows how dramatic new evidence can spark debate about how we interpret the past and underscores the need for careful, reproducible research rather than sensational claims.

If the data hold up under independent scrutiny, the discovery could shift thinking about early American prehistory and how climate events shaped human societies. But until then, the story reminds readers that science advances through cautious validation rather than dramatic headlines.

Highlights

The next round of peer review will test these claims.