Megafauna Extinctions Debate

Picture: Carolinas Bays possible impact craters associated with ice age extinctions Event Summary

Reading "Bio Diversity" by E.O. Wilson around 15 years ago was my first exposure to the possibility - endorsed as highly likely by Wilson- that paleo indians had hunted many ice age megafauna species to extinction. The thesis shocked me. I had assumed human caused extinctions to be the exclusive province of post Enlightenment modernity, earlier ages presumably lacking the technical power and alienation from nature required for such overkill.

Paul Martin and Richard Firestone are eminent scientists currently working on the puzzle of the disappearance of large ice age mammals They have very divergent hypotheses about the causes. Martin lays out a compelling argument for megafauna extinctions that have coincided with human population movement. Firestone is presenting evidence for a combination supernova/impact event series as the extinction culprit. He made an attention getting presentation at the recent Mexico meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) So, maybe humanity is off the hook on this one.

Here is the scoop on Firestone's ideas from Jon Hagstrum, who is personally involved in analyzing micro meteorites embedded in mammoth tusks and bison skulls. Super cool stuff!! Check the links.

Jon writes: "According to Rick (Firestone) the supernova's first radiation wave was around 40,000 yrs ago (ka), the shock wave at 34 ka, and the debris wave at 16 ka knocking loose comets etc. impacting at 13 ka. I've attached the summary of events from Rick's book. Also, I've attached the AGU abstract that he included me on (that's why I have it) that will be presented in December"

Thanks Jon! Stayed tuned for the December paper. Read the abstract. AMAZING!!