Retraction of: Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05758-y, published online 01 February 2022

The Editors have retracted this Article.

Following publication of this Article concerns have been raised by Nolan et al.1 about errors in methodology, analyses, and interpretation of the data in the Article, indicating that the study does not provide data to support the claims of an airburst event or that such an event led to the decline of the Hopewell culture. Given these concerns, the Editors no longer have confidence that the conclusions presented are adequately supported.

James A. Jordan agrees with this retraction. Kenneth Barnett Tankersley, Stephen D. Meyers, Stephanie A. Meyers, Louis Herzner, David L. Lentz and Dylan Zedaker did not respond to correspondence from the Editors about this retraction.