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Worldbuilding

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  • $\begingroup$ Paper and plastics and concrete will be all gone (or almost all gone) ni three millennia. But... In many parts of the world we still build houses of actual fired bricks. But glass is eternal -- we have glass objects about 3000 years old. There is so much glass and ceramics and stainless steel and aluminium and copper in this world that our traces are pretty much garanteed to be blindingly obvious after three millennia. $\endgroup$
    – AlexP
    Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 18:27
  • $\begingroup$ Cities with sky scrapers would take longer than other structures, true, but if the central support structure weakens and the building comes down then the glass is going to be gravel-ized and absorbed under any plant growth. So I wouldn't call the glass a problem. $\endgroup$
    – Draco18s no longer trusts SE
    Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 18:40
  • $\begingroup$ @AlexP, I'm in California so I might be a bit biased about brick structures (they tend to fall down when the ground moves). However, the cement between the bricks is the weak point. I don't think brick structures will last too long anywhere that has a lot of moisture. Especially anywhere that reaches freezing temperatures. Most of the glass and ceramic what we've dug up was purposely buried (usually with a body). We don't do that any more. Copper corrodes. Aluminum may still be around but will probably be bent out of recognizable shape. Stainless steel is only rust resistant. $\endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 18:42
  • $\begingroup$ @Draco18s, that's exactly what I'm thinking. Even without any disaster, eventually a sky scraper will sag enough to pull the center of gravity off of the supports and it will fall (likely taking out other buildings as well). $\endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 18:44
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @AlexP, we don't build like that any more. That was kind of my point. Ancient structures will outlast modern ones. Look at how thick the walls are (look around the windows in the interior and exterior shots). I'm not saying that occasional buildings may not last but that most will be gone without intervention. $\endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 19:08