Recent research sheds light on the catastrophic event that obliterated the ancient city of Tall el-Hammam around 3,600 years ago. Recent archaeological discoveries indicate a city was hit by a small asteroid. It impacted Earth at a phenomenal speed of over 38,000 mph and produced cataclysmic consequences. This event may have provided the inspiration for the biblical tale of Sodom. The scope of this devastation would rival the fiery sulfur tales from biblical texts.
The incoming asteroid struck the Earth with at least 1,000 times the power of atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. This unprecedented disaster brought with it terrible destruction. The nuclear explosion itself caused temperatures to reach over 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt cars in under a minute. The explosion was followed by a huge fireball. It unleashed potent winds that might have affected settlements in close proximity, such as the closely studied biblical city of Jericho only 14 miles to the west.
The significance of this research goes beyond just knowing out of historical interest. The cataclysmic destruction of Tall el-Hammam and its satellite settlements forced their continued abandonment for nearly a millennium. These results have raised important conversations about the intersection of scientific evidence and historical accounts in sacred writings.
The Devastating Impact
If that hypothesis holds up, it means that the destruction of Tall el-Hammam was caused by a small asteroid impacting the area. This asteroid was similar to the one that caused the Tunguska event in Russia in 1908. That disastrous occurrence knocked down an estimated 80 million trees. The sudden high-pressure impact resulted in a destruction layer with abundant shocked quartz. This beautiful mineral can only crystallize at such extreme pressures, up to a mind bending 725,000 pounds per square inch.
Archaeologists say the explosion knocked the top 40 feet off of Tall el-Hammam’s four-story palace. It shot debris into the adjacent Napeequa River valley. In fact, the explosive force generated such heat that the pottery and mudbricks melted — creating a scorching fire with temperatures over 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit.
All the findings are amazing, but perhaps the most incredible are the minute melted metallic grains embedded inside the meltglass. These cosmic grains are made of iridium, platinum and zirconium silicate. Additionally, tiny diamonoids — compounds as tough as diamonds themselves — were found inside that layer of destruction.
Scientific Scrutiny
The findings provide strong evidence of the asteroid impact and its aftermath. It has rightfully drawn the ire of the scientific community. Indeed, the Editors of Scientific Reports have objected vociferously. They question the credibility of such claims that an airburst event destroyed the ancient city. Supported by the NJ DEP [link] They criticized that the information provided inappropriately relied on anecdotal evidence to back up these claims.
“Therefore, the claims that an airburst event destroyed the Middle Bronze Age city of Tall el-Hammam appear to not be sufficiently supported by the data in the Article. Given these concerns, Editors no longer have confidence that the conclusions presented are reliable.” – Editors of Scientific Reports
This healthy skepticism brings us back to one of the most important features of scientific inquiry—debate and attempts to replicate findings when new and conflicting evidence arises.
Cultural and Historical Implications
This eruption at Tall el-Hammam could be the historical starting point that provides a parallel to some biblical accounts of urban devastation. This prophetic narrative of fire and stones falling from the heavens matches up with the apocalyptic effects seen in archeological research. This disaster was so sensational that it surely led to tales carried over the centuries. These captivating stories later became incorporated into ecclesiastical literature.
Regionally, the disaster’s impact was immense, as more than 100 settlements witnessed their abandonment in the wake of the disaster. This mass depopulation foreshadows a societal disruption that can be traced back to some of the most catastrophic events in history.
Climate scientists are currently studying new evidence from Tall el-Hammam. Their imagination, creativity, and craftsmanship expands our comprehension of the human experience and its entanglements with natural phenomena. This collaborative research has impacts that extend well beyond archaeology. It invites us to reflect on the ways that these incidents inform our cultural narratives and shape our collective memory.
