The Silurian Hypothesis, SETI, and Defining the Anthropocene

[Oxytropidoceras]

Was There a Civilization On Earth Before Humans?

Adam Frank, The Atlantic, April 13, 2018

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/are-we-earths-only-civilization/557180/

 

Schmidt, G.A. and Frank, A., 2018. The Silurian 

hypothesis: would it be possible to detect an industrial 

civilization in the geological record?. International 

Journal of Astrobiology, pp. 1-9.

https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.03748

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-astrobiology/article/silurian-hypothesis-would-it-be-possible-to-detect-an-industrial-civilization-in-the-geological-record/77818514AA6907750B8F4339F7C70EC6

 

There are two very good books that discuss 

what a technological civilization, ours, would 

behind in the archaeological – geological record. 

 

They are; 

 

Weisman, A., 2008. The world without us. Macmillan. 

0312427905, 9780312427900 

 

and

 

Zalasiewicz, J. and Freedman, K., 2009. The Earth 

after us: what legacy will humans leave in the rocks?. 

Oxford University Press. 0199214980, 9780199214983 

 

Dr. Zalasiewicz has written a papers about the 

Anthropocene and the signature and traces that 

would survive in the geologic record. Examples are:

 

Zalasiewicz, J., Waters, C.N. and Williams, M., 2014. 

Human bioturbation, and the subterranean landscape 

of the Anthropocene. Anthropocene, 6, pp. 3-9. 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264241410_Human_bioturbation_and_the_subterranean_landscape_of_the_Anthropocene

 

and 

 

Zalasiewicz, J., Williams, M., Waters, C.N., Barnosky, 

A.D. and Haff, P., 2014. The technofossil record of 

humans. The Anthropocene Review, 1(1), pp. 34-43. 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264461538_The_technofossil_record_of_humans

 

Related papers can be found at: 

 

Jan Zalasiewicz, University of Leicester, Department of Geology, 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jan_Zalasiewicz

 

Yours, 

 

Paul H.

 

"The past is never dead. It's not even past." 

William Faulkner, Act 1, Scene III, Requiem for a Nun (1951)