A link has been found between two events that occurred 56,000 years ago.

Barringer Crater—also known as Meteor Crater—was formed between 53,000 and 63,000 years ago when a massive asteroid collided with Earth. According to new research, this massive impact may have created shockwaves that reached as far as the Grand Canyon and triggered a massive landslide that collapsed a cliff in the area.

The study's lead author, Karl Karlstrom, a professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico, noted that while the events could be coincidental, the timing is striking. "These types of events are extremely rare and unusual," he said. "They all date back 56,000 years, suggesting a connection."

Animal figures and driftwood fragments discovered in Stanton Cave in the Grand Canyon by Karlstrom's father and colleagues in the 1960s suggest that water levels in the area once reached heights difficult to reach today. The cave sits 46 meters above the current river level, prompting researchers to explore how the driftwood reached this height.

New radiocarbon dating revealed that the wood samples were approximately 56,000 years old. The research team examined other caves in the area for similar geological patterns. The wood remains in these caves also date to the same period, confirming that the Colorado River experienced an extraordinary flood at that time.

The flood is believed to have been caused by a massive landslide near Nankoweap Canyon, in the lower Grand Canyon. The landslide is believed to have blocked the river's flow, creating a massive natural dam that stretched for miles behind the dam.

Around the same time, a separate study conducted by David Kring of the Lunar and Planetary Institute dated the formation of Barringer Crater to 56,000 years ago. According to Kring, the meteor impact may have triggered an earthquake of approximately 5.4 magnitude. It has been suggested that the impact of this earthquake on the Grand Canyon region could have been equivalent to a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, and that this magnitude would have been sufficient to cause the cliff to collapse.

Karlstrom emphasized that this evidence is not definitive, but said, "Events such as meteor impacts, landslides, lake formation, and driftwood found in high caves are all very rare and specific events. The fact that they all occur in the same time period strengthens the possibility of a connection."