Part 8/10:
As the investigation deepened, a myriad of theories arose regarding the city's demise. Initially attributed to volcanic or seismic activity, findings suggested something more catastrophic—a meteor airburst. Collins’ team discovered high-heat pottery shards reminiscent of trinitite, suggesting the kind of extreme conditions typically associated with a nuclear explosion.
The physical evidence hinted at a possible meteoric event—a scenario where a meteor explodes in mid-air, creating a shockwave and heat that could devastate landscapes. Such occurrences, though rare, have historical precedents—like the Tunguska event in Siberia—reinforcing this possibility. The hypothesis posits that an airburst could cause immediate destruction and have lasting effects on the surrounding environment.