C. Vance Haynes Jr. a,1, J. Boerner b, K. Domanik c, D. Lauretta c, J. Ballenger d, and J. Goreva c
-Author Affiliations
aSchool of Anthropology and Department of Geosciences,University of Arizona, PO Box 210030, Tucson, AZ 85721
bDepartment of Geosciences, University of Arizona, PO Box 210077, Tucson, AZ 85721
cLunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, PO Box 210092, Tucson, AZ 87521
dSchool of Anthropology, University of Arizona, PO Box 210030, Tucson, AZ 85721
Edited by George C. Frison, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, and approved December 8, 2009 (received for review July 29, 2009)
Abstract
Some of the evidence for the recent hypothesis of an extraterrestrial impact that caused late Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions [Firestone et al. (2007) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:16016–16021] was based upon samples collected at Murray Springs, a Clovis archaeological site in southeastern Arizona. Here we describe sampling and analyses of magnetic separates from within, above, and below the lower Younger Dryas boundary (LYDB) black mat at Murray Springs, as well as radiation measurements from the LYDB at Murray Springs and two other well-stratified Clovis sites. The main magnetic fraction at Murray Springs is maghemite. Magnetic microspherules have terrestrial origins but also occur as cosmic dust particles. We failed to find iridium or radiation anomalies. The evidence for massive biomass burning at Murray Springs is addressed and found to be lacking. We could not substantiate some of the claims by Firestone and others, but our findings do not preclude a terminal Pleistocene cosmic event.
archaeology cosmic dust microspherules radiation anomoly biomass burning
Footnotes
1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:jamb@email.arizona.edu.
Author contributions: C.V.H. designed research; C.V.H., J.B., K.D., D.L., J.B., and J.G. performed research; J.B., K.D., and D.L. contributed new reagents/analytic tools; C.V.H., J.B., K.D., D.L., and J.B. analyzed data; and C.V.H. and J.B. wrote the paper; .
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
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