Description
Fifteen thousand years ago, North America was like the Serengeti on steroids, with mega-creatures roaming a continent teaming with incredible wildlife. But about 13,000 years ago something happened. In a heartbeat of geologic time, 70% of all animals weighing over 100 lbs. vanished. This represents about 100 species of large animals that include Wooly Mammoths, Giant Ground Sloth's, Glyptodonts and Saber-Toothed Cats. But what caused the Earth's last Great Extinction? For decades scientists have debated this Ice Age Mystery. Wonderworks exhibit The Last Extinction presents and debates the four latest scientific theories: "Overkill", "Overchill", "Overill" and "Overgrill".
- Overkill is the theory that the continent's first human hunters, fresh from Siberia, killed the megafauna off as they colonized the newly discovered land.
- Overchill is the belief that climate changes at the end of the Pleistocene epoch triggered the great vanishing
- Overill is the belief that a virulent "hypersdiesease" brought by the first American's or their dogs might have raced through species with no natural ammunity, bringing about their demise.
- Overgrill is the newest hypothesis which proposes that a comet impact or airburst over North America was the cause of the extinction.
Visitors to the exhibit will be presented the latest research and evidence spporting each hypothesis. The four Clashing Arguments are discussed and debated with evidence presented both for and against. Visitors then choose which theory, or combination or theories they belived caused the Earths last great Extinction.
The Stars of the exhibition are 4 robotic Ice Age Mammals: a Saber-Thoothed Cat posed to kill, a towering Giant Ground Sloth and her baby, a Giant armored Glyptodont and a long tusked Woolly Mammoth. Visitors will come fact-to-face with these moving roaring beast which once roamed the plains of North America. Also included in the exhibition are fossil casts, a glacier simulation display and numerous hands-on and interactive devices which will educate and entertain visitors both young and old.
