I live in Rome and they often say that it’s difficult to build a subway because of all the ruins underground, so i’ve always wondered, how can an ancient city get so deep underground? Where does all the dirt covering them come from? Were they covered on purpose so they could build over them, or is this a natural phenomenon?
You can especially see this in the foro romano where the ruins are so low underground compared to the streets you can walk on
In: Planetary Science
It’s a natural process of erosion and deposition of material over time, really. While depth can be related to age, it also depends a lot on where the ruins are and their surroundings. Something in a valley will likely collect more, or in an area with looser soil. Rome is something like 2000 years old give or take, so even if a small amount of dirt, debris, or biological matter collects each year, and that adds up cumulatively on such a timescale.
Latest Answers