If civilization collapsed right now, how long would there still be evidence that we were here? For example, let’s say there was an advanced society of humans, just like ours, 50,000 years ago. Would there be any evidence left of their existence?

Thank you for your thought ful and respect ful question ! I ' m glad to help you explore this interesting topic . \n To answer your question , the amount of time evidence of a civil ization ' s existence would last depends on various factors , including the society ' s technology , environment , and cultural practices . In general , the longer a civil ization has existed and the more advanced its technology , the more likely it is that evidence of its existence will be preserved . \n If a civil ization existed 5 0 , 0 0 0 years ago , there are several types of evidence that could potentially remain : \n 1 . Arch ae ological evidence : If a civil ization existed left behind physical artifact s , such as tools , buildings , or other objects , these could potentially be discovered and analyz ed by arch ae olog ists . The older the civil ization , the more likely it is that only a few scattered artifact s might remain , rather than a compreh ensive record of its existence . \n 2 . Writ ten records : If a civil ization had a written language and kept records , such as cl ay table ts , scroll s , or books , these could potentially be discovered and de ci pher ed . The older the civil ization , the less likely it is that any written records would remain , as many ancient written records have been lost to time . \n 3 . Or al trad : If a civil ization had a strong or al tradition , with stories and leg ends passed down through gener ations , these could potentially provide cl ues about the civil ization ' s existence . However , the accuracy and comple ten ess of or al trad itions can vary greatly , and they may not provide a complete picture of a civil ization ' s history . \n 4 . Gen etic evidence : If a civil ization had a significant gen etic legacy , such as through the spread of dise ases or the migration of people , this could potentially be detected through gen etic analysis . For example , the presence of certain gen etic markers in a population could indicate that a particular civil ization had existed in the area . \n 5 . Ge ological evidence : If a civil ization had a significant impact on its environment , such as through def or est ation , min ing , or construction , this could potentially be detected through ge ological analysis . For example , the presence of ancient roads , can als , or other structures could be identified through ge oph ys ical surve ys . \n In summary , while it is difficult to predict exactly how much evidence of a civil ization ' s existence would remain after 5 0 , 0 0 0 years , it is likely that some evidence would remain , particularly if the civil ization had a significant impact on its environment or left behind written or or al records . However , the amount and quality of evidence would depend on various factors , including the civil ization ' s technology , culture , and historical context . </s>