andrewducker: (Portal!)
andrewducker ([personal profile] andrewducker) wrote2011-02-11 03:56 pm

Question for the floor

So, how long in the past would a previous civilisation of, say, Mesopotamian levels have had to be for their to be no remaining sign of it? i.e. for any bronze tools to corrode away to nothing, pottery to do likewise.

How long will it take until Stonehenge is worn down to nothing by the wind and rain?

[identity profile] anton-p-nym.livejournal.com 2011-02-11 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, glaciation is a game-changer there. The Canadian Shield is as inarable as it is today because the glaciers moved much of the topsoil south; this would badly disrupt stratigraphy and probably crush a lot of artifacts beyond recognition. Anything that went down to the bedrock would show, but I don't know how many Babylonian-tech structures would have foundations that deep.

-- Steve would need more information (and a refresher course on archeology) before making any detailed suggestions, though.