Clovis Comet Theory at Pecos Conference

The Clovis Comet theory argues that a comet exploding over the Laurentide ice sheet about 12,900 years ago caused--or worsened--the megafaunal extinctions and led to the end of the Clovis big-game hunting lifestyle. This theory was debated at the recent Pecos Conference, a regional archaeology conference held annually in different places in the American southwest.

The videos taken by George Howard during the August 8, 2008 conference , include the slide presentation by Allen West laying out the theory, as well as videos from the extended debate afterward with physicist Mark Boslough, astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker, and geologist John McCone. The videos are in 10-minute pieces but you can also play them as a playlist.

Tantalizingly, some of the discussion has been edited out--the nanodiamonds data, which is currently in press. Fascinating stuff.

• Pecos Conference: Clovis Comet Theory videos on YouTube
• Did an exploding comet end Clovis? background
• Clovis, Black Mats, and Extra-Terrestrials more background