Part 8/11:
Our built environment, cities, and artifacts face degradation and erosion, eventually being buried beneath layers of sediment or transformed by tectonic activity. The geological record suggests that anything older than 500 million years is largely lost, making it conceivable that a prior civilization's physical evidence could remain concealed from modern discoveries, absent any legacy.
Hunting for Civilization's Indicators
As we consider what evidence a past civilization may have left, it is crucial to analyze the markers in our current geological footprint. Human activities create unique chemical signatures characterized by pollution, agricultural runoff, and climate change. These signatures may appear in sedimentary layers as distinguishable markers for future scientists to evaluate.