Researchers from the Rochester Institute of Technology in the USA, under the guidance of the Science Open (SO) portal, carefully studied the archaeological layer in Abu Hureyra, in northern Syria, and came to interesting results that could rewrite part of human history.
Researchers became interested in quartz grains found in this archaeological layer, believed to have been impacted by space around 12,800 years ago. Traces of this influence were found inside the grains themselves. These microscopic marks were cracks caused by mechanical and thermal stress or a combination of both.
It turned out that these cracks were filled with amorphous silica, which is a characteristic sign of impact metamorphism. Elemental analysis showed that this silica was oxygen-depleted, indicating its formation under high temperatures and reducing conditions.
These results support the hypothesis that glass-filled cracks in the quartz grains could be formed by thermal and mechanical forces similar to those caused by comet impacts that form craters. This means that Abu Hureyra could have experienced some kind of cosmic event in the past.
The researchers also found evidence that the Earth was struck by debris from a disintegrating comet about 12,800 years ago. This event was accompanied by severe climate changes that affected the settlement in Abu Hurayra (Syria). Surprisingly, however, this cosmic collision also had a positive impact, promoting the development of agriculture and ranching in the region.