Chiemgau impact hypothesis
Chiemgau impact hypothesis is an obsolete scientific theory that claimed the Tüttensee lake in southern Bavaria, Germany, to be the result of a Holocene meteorite impact. This claim has been refuted by geological research and the finding of a soil horizon of undisturbed peat and sedimentation since the end of the last glaciation period.[1][2] The lake is in fact one of many kettles under the foothills of the Bavarian alps.[3]
The claims of an impact crater had been raised by a team of hobby-archaeologists, calling themselves the CIRT (Chiemgau impact research team),[4] and have resulted in some media reports in Germany and discussions in the local tourism industry, but are not accepted beyond the CIRT team today.
References
- ^ Bavarian State Agency for the Environment: Neue Altersdaten: Kein "Kelten-Komet" im Chiemgau, Press release August 24, 2010 (german)
- ^ Ernst Kroemer: Sedimententnahme und Datierungen in der Verlandungszone des Tüttensees, Landesamt für Umwelt, August 2010 (german)
- ^ G. Doppler, E. Geiss: Der Tüttensee im Chiemgau – Toteiskessel statt Impaktkrater, Bavarian State Agency of Geology, June 2005
- ^ The Chiemgau Impact - the claims by the Chiemgau impact research team