What would be left of todays world in 10,000 years?

Question

If a catastophe wiped out all of mankind except for those on a single isolated island, who lived, generation after generation for 10,000 years prior to venturing into the outside world. What would they find? Would skyscrapers still be standing. Would cars perhaps sheltered in garages under buildings be ready to start (with a little work). What do others see as happening?

Answer 1

Wood decays over time, especially if it gets wet or damp, due

to microbial action. Most types of steel corrode over time, which will

happen after paint peels and chips away. Most paint would eventually

be bleached by the sun, and would most likely peel and chip.

Stones and bricks last the longest, though the structures thereof are

likely to crumble from erosion by vegetation. Weeds and other vegetation

would be very common, having torn up most of the pavement, reducing

it to small pieces. Grass, gardens, and farm crops would most

likely be replaced by weeds and other natural vegetation.

Any remaining livestock animals and pet animals would either be

killed through predation, competition, or starvation, or would evolve

into a more wild form. In 10,000 years, there will also be substantial

downhill soil transportation, due to rain and wind, such that many

of the human structures will be partially or fully covered by soil.

There would also have been several major earthquakes, tsunamis,

volcanos, hurricanes, and tornados that would devastate some areas.

Generally, most of what would remain after 10,000 years would

not be very useful.

Answer 2

unfortunately, they will probably find tons of plastic stuff scattered all over the world

Answer 3

If a catstrophe wiped out all of mankind all that would be left in 10,000 years would be the mutated/evolved forms of the cockroach.

*shudder*

-Duo

Answer 4

With the way we've treated the planet and ourselves for the past 10,000 years, it would be a miracle if we survive another.

Yet if we did, I would imagine most of the world would be barren. The few surviving animals on the planet would make up our food supply since agriculture would be even more difficult to maintain.

But in all honesty, I believe if anyone were to survive any type of cartographic event, it would have to be indigenous hunter-gathers, who would continue their way of life.

Answer 5

Nothing because some countries are going to start nuking other countries and in retaliation everythings destroyed. there's nothing left to find! except the trash in those landfills buried in the ground.

Answer 6

If some people are left alive, life would continue and return to original. But I think that wouldn't happen.

Answer 7

I asked an archaeologist (she was teaching a class I was taking) what people would find...

We'd find pottery, the foundations of buildings, things like that.

Most things metal would have long since eroded. Cars would be useless if they hadn't disintegrated in to rust. When you also consider all the floods, fires, earthquakes and tornados of 10,000 years, there won't be really anything left on the surface.