Nineveh, Iraq. An ancient clay tablet held at the British Museum has puzzled experts for over 150 years. The cuneiform tablet, in the British Museum’s collection, No. K8538, is known as “the Planisphere.” It will be translated in the early 21st century: the clay tablet is an ancient Sumerian star map. Researchers say it describes an asteroid impact in ancient times. The clay tablet was recovered in the 19th century from the underground library of King Ashurbanipal in Nineveh, Iraq, by Sir Henry Layard. Translations and eventual analysis have revealed astonishing details. The ancient Sumerians inscribed details on the clay tablet’s surface that reveal they observed a massive object, visible in space, hurtling through Earth’s atmosphere and ultimately colliding with the planet. Based on observations made by Sumerian astronomers, scientists concluded that the object in question was most likely an asteroid over a kilometer in diameter. It was most likely an Aten-type asteroid, asteroids that orbit relatively close to the planet given its orbit. From the reported trajectory, it could be the asteroid that crashed into Köfels, Austria. The data engraved on the clay tablet explain why there is no actual impact crater at Köfels. Observations indicate that the asteroid’s angle of arrival was extremely shallow, up to six degrees. This suggests that the space rock most likely cut through a mountain as it descended (most likely the tip of Gamskogel), causing the asteroid to disintegrate before reaching its final impact point. Scientists explain that as it descended through the valley, the asteroid transformed into a gigantic fireball, approximately five kilometers in diameter. When it struck Köfels, it produced extremely high pressures that pulverized the rock. However, because it was no longer a solid object, it did not leave behind an impact crater.
