AboutJeff Morris Expertise I will attempt to answer questions relating to basic field techniques (particulary landscape related questions), fundamental archaeological theory questions and the archaeology of the Post-Medieval and later periods in Britain.
Experience I have previously, for several years worked as a professional archaeologist throughout the UK, I am now an active member of my local archaeological society.
Organizations Institute of Field Archaeologists
Education/Credentials MA Historical Archaeology (University Of Sheffield)
Expert: Jeff Morris Date: 6/14/2008 Subject: Buried ruins
Question This is, I'm afraid, a very general question but I wondered why ruins and earlier civilisations are so often buried?Why does the earth's surface seem to become higher or do previous buidings etc sink? This is probably a geological question too.
Answer Sites that are abandoned for a long time become overgrown with vegetation that gradually decays and builds up a layer of topsoil. Places located in valleys may get covered by erosion from nearby hillsides. Occasionally a site gets buried because of some natural disaster.
The major reason sites become buried, however, has to do with the peculiarities of human settlement. Towns don't get built just anywhere; they're usually located near water, transportation routes, fertile land, etc. A good location may be deserted once in a while due to war or disease, but generally it's soon reoccupied. In the ancient world many places were continuously inhabited for thousands of years, being finally abandoned only after some change in external circumstances.
