I read years back a report-or more like a theory on how the earth would either reclaim itself or how it would be with out human occupants. It discusses more Glacier activity, but you get the idea on time, how things would rot/dissentigrate and go back into the earth. I can provide the article if anyone is interested. Makes me want to be creamated. The speical didn't divulge on skeletal remains ie: graves already in ground, if those would eventually decompose or crush and be another layer of 'earth'. I've been thinking of it all week, actually. It stated that domestic animals would fair-so so but cats would actually 'rule the skycrapers' which I found a little humerous.

After reading the report and viewing this special, and seeing the earth would probably be better or improve without humans, I feel like such an A**&%le!

My husband was commenting as we were watching, probalby 18 months, or 5 years and evertyhing would be gone. With which I replied, "that's not what that report stated". I was thinking more on the lines of 5000 years, but the prediction was eventually 10,000 years and even then the pyramids and sphinx may still be around. Wow, I think that's a long time but then if you look at the span of humans on this planet it isn't much compared to the history of earth. I have this massive book that shows the timeline and as they say, we probably take up an inch on that line! (maybe less). So 10,000 years probably isn't that long. Reminds me of that movie The Time Machine (newer one) and AI.

I donnnno, just pondering our existence... and length of time.

quote:

Originally posted by lupechennel:
My husband was commenting as we were watching, probalby 18 months, or 5 years and evertyhing would be gone. With which I replied, "that's not what that report stated". I was thinking more on the lines of 5000 years, but the prediction was eventually 10,000 years and even then the pyramids and sphinx may still be around. Wow, I think that's a long time but then if you look at the span of humans on this planet it isn't much compared to the history of earth. I have this massive book that shows the timeline and as they say, we probably take up an inch on that line! (maybe less). So 10,000 years probably isn't that long. Reminds me of that movie The Time Machine (newer one) and AI.

I donnnno, just pondering our existence... and length of time.

We were in Rome a couple of months ago and visited Ostia Antica about 30 kilometers outside of Rome. Ostia was the original Port of Rome with a population of over 50,000 people. The city was abandoned around 400 AD and used only for “spare parts for a few hundred years then completely abandoned.

We were surprised when we saw buildings that had been abandoned for over 1,500 years that still looked like the picture below.

I think it would take a long time to remove our “foot print” from the earth if 2000-year-old buildings look this good after 1,500 years of neglect.


Obviously they did somea ton of restoration, but they did not “add” to buildings, just cleaned them up.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: perplexed,

re: above photo...
...but that photo shows much much more than you elude to. The weeds have been controlled, the trees in the background have been pruned, an electrical wire crosses through the buildings, the street has been kept clean for centuries, and obviously it is a tourist attraction as you went there to tour it. Hardly left untouched.

Yes, those buildings are standing, but wouldn't they be far more beat up for the wear if vegetation had taken root between all the masonry and no one was there for those 1,500 years?

There are countless maya ruins that are just about impossible to locate due to jungle encroachments and are now almost completely sucked back into the earth; many may never be found. That's really what the program was trying to convey.

Related... Did anybody see the Will Smith movie I Am Legend?

True, I could have been more clear that they started restoration in 1907. BTW the wire is holding the wall up all light is provided by generators.

Still the fact is that the buildings were in great shape after 1500 years.

Here is one from 1916 (note the trees even then)

that's the same place?

quote:

Originally posted by GESince1958:
that's the same place?

Yep, it had been close to being as you said, “Sucked back into the earth”. Even though it was mostly covered in dirt, it was still obvious that much of the city remained underneath.

They were quite surprised to find entire buildings (minus the biodegradable parts) still standing.

Sphinx was the same way. Burred multiple times and unearthed, only to accelerate the errosion process. -D'oh So sometimes burried is good. Especially in that climate. Italy may be different, however, more kind, unless there is pollution problem? That region doesn't look back, looks more pristine. (not like Rome,New York, Paris... )

My husband was trying to point out, things going away like in a few years, was like what GE said. When vegetation takes on a stronghold, look out! Maybe our Glen Ellyn driveways and streets will crack buckle and get covered up in a few years. I think it will take longer, but it will get junglelike.

I didn't see I Am Legend (Omega Man), but they showed the city after, is it, one year? I'm inclinded to disbelieve that the city would look that tattered in 1 year, unless humans purposely F@#ked-up the city themselves in the movie. Movie very loosly similar to 28 Days Later and many other flicks, I desire to see other movies before that one. The Time Machine and A-1 also show humans gone and our 'stuff' too either burried or rotting.

Oh-Great pictures by the way, even though human interaction may have occurred, I appreciate ancient architecture. Thank you for showing those. Did you touch the bricks? That's one thing I would do, touch the surface.

quote:

Originally posted by lupechennel:
My husband was trying to point out, things going away like in a few years, was like what GE said. When vegetation takes on a stronghold, look out! Maybe our Glen Ellyn driveways and streets will crack buckle and get covered up in a few years. I think it will take longer, but it will get junglelike.

I am betting that our driveways and streets will fare well in years to come. It is the GE downtown business district that will be buried and forgotten.

quote:

Originally posted by GESince1958:

quote:

Originally posted by lupechennel:
My husband was trying to point out, things going away like in a few years, was like what GE said. When vegetation takes on a stronghold, look out! Maybe our Glen Ellyn driveways and streets will crack buckle and get covered up in a few years. I think it will take longer, but it will get junglelike.

I am betting that our driveways and streets will fare well in years to come. It is the GE downtown business district that will be buried and forgotten.

But the Mews will live forever. No vegetation can crack all that concrete.

Interesting pics...

http://fogonazos.blogspot.com/2008/01/kolmanskop-ghost-...-buried-in-sand.html