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baalke@...
11/05/01 12:17 PM
Please respond to neo-owner

For JPL internal use only.

http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/04/wmet04.xml&sSheet=/news/2001/11/04/ixhomef.html

Meteor clue to end of Middle East civilisations
By Robert Matthews
The Sunday Telegraph (United Kingdom)
November 4, 2001

SCIENTISTS have found the first evidence that a devastating meteor impact
in
the Middle East might have triggered the mysterious collapse of
civilisations more than 4,000 years ago.

Studies of satellite images of southern Iraq have revealed a two-mile-wide
circular depression which scientists say bears all the hallmarks of an
impact crater. If confirmed, it would point to the Middle East being
struck
by a meteor with the violence equivalent to hundreds of nuclear bombs.

Today's crater lies on what would have been shallow sea 4,000 years ago,
and
any impact would have caused devastating fires and flooding.

Full story here:

http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/04/wmet04.xml&sSheet=/news/2001/11/04/ixhomef.html