Earliest evidence of objects intended for future archaeologists? T8silRr
In modern times, it is not unusual for people to wonder what, if anything, will archeologists of the future (human or otherwise) will learn about our civilization from various artifacts we leave behind.
Some even take steps to preserve modern objects in a way that they're findable and interpretable tens of thousands of years in the future (e.g. nuclear waste warnings). In some ways, this might be considered a sophisticated form of geocaching or letterboxing.
Question: What is the earliest evidence of such 'preserve-objects-for-distant-future-discovery' behavior?
I am mostly curious about the earliest conception of the idea that civilizations have finite lifespans, are potentially discovered later, and that the inhabitants of such civilizations might be able to leave messages among the civilization ruins for future discoverers.
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3No idea what the earliest is, but I'd be surprised if it's earlier than the industrial revolution. Possibly even no earlier than post-WW2. Insofar as I'm aware, the notion that we might trigger some global calamity that could kill us all only became mainstream after the invention of nuclear weapons. – Denis de Bernardy 11 hours ago
3 Answers
The ancient Sumerians and Babylonians, from about 3000 BC on, used to bury clay tablets in the foundations of their temples and other major buildings giving the name of the king who founded the temple and threatening to curse anyone who might in the future destroy the building. These inscriptions were not addressed to their contemporaries (they were buried underground) but to future generations. Not archaeologists, of course.
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Interesting, but doesn't really answer the question "preserve-objects-for-distant-future-discovery". – Lars Bosteen 1 hour ago
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@LarsBosteen How doesn't it? It's information preserved underground for future generations... – corsiKa 1 hour ago
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They were warnings in case of discovery. They did not want to be discovered, but realised that they might be, hence the warning. The OP's main question clearly states his meaning to be in an archeaological context, and you state 'not archaeologists' in your answer... – Lars Bosteen 29 mins ago
Coins, dedications, and other 'ritual' objects have been buried in the foundations of buildings since prehistory. The function of these artefacts is unclear, but they do not appear to have been placed there for future generations.
What you are looking for is usually called a 'time-capsule', and as the Wikipedia article observes:
A time capsule is a historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a deliberate method of communication with future people, and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians.
Wikipedia also has a list of time capsules, broken down by country. The oldest example on this list seems to be the Samuel Adams and Paul Revere time capsule. This was located in a cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House, and is:
... believed to have been buried in 1795 by then-Governor Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.
The time capsule was opened at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 2015.
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The Babylonian foundation inscriptions (see my answer) are explicitly addressed to future generations ("If any king ever will destroy this temple....") – fdb 6 hours ago
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3@fdb Those inscriptions contain curses aimed at any future generation that damaged or destroyed the temple or tablet. They actually appear to be addressed to the Gods, pointing out the worthy deeds of the kings who placed them there. See for example this article on the inscriptions held by the Glencairn Museum. More specifically, they were intended to be left in place forever, not to be found and removed by future generations. – sempaiscuba♦ 6 hours ago
The modern sense of the word "archaeology" is less than 200 years old. Antiquarianism is only 400 years old.
Thus, there can't be anything "intended for future archaeologists" more than 400 years old.
