"Scrub-time" for human activity on Earth

[Wonderz]

Hello Everyone!

 

I'm new to the forum and I'd like to pose my first question. Something I have not yet found a good answer to. I'm hoping for some input from geology/chemistry or any other members with relevant knowledge. OK here goes:

 

How long, at least in theory, would it take for the planet to be completely "scrubbed" of all traces of human civilization/activity. In other words, is it possible through the elapse of specific timespan, to never be able to tell that human beings once had a civilization here on earth? Thanks in advance!

 

[StringJunky]

My guess is about 1000 years to forest over.

Edited October 3, 2018 by StringJunky

[Sensei]

Footsteps leaved on the Moon by astronauts will last millions or billions of year, as long as no meteorite will hit close to them...

[Strange]

There was a book, and an article in Scientific American, about this a few years ago. It varies between a few hundred years for some things to millions of years for others:

http://ogoapes.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/3/9/3239894/an_earth_without_people.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Without_Us

This more recent article on the anthropocene might be of interest too: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/humans-leave-a-telltale-residue-on-earth1/

Or, approaching it from the other end, a couple of scientists looked at what evidence we would expect to see if there had been an advanced civilisation millions of years ago: https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.03748

[Wonderz]

Thanks guys, really interesting answers.

 

Strange, thank you I need to read all of this, super exciting!