What is up with these buried cities that archeologists keep discovering? I’m trying to figure out how a city gets buried unless a volcano is nearby. In my house, for example, when the crumbs on the kitchen floor reach ankle height, I start thinking about sweeping. Call me a neat freak if you must, but I wouldn’t just keep eating bagels until I lose the refrigerator. It’s just common sense. Apparently ancient people had no common sense. Or no brooms.
I suppose the dirt can sneak up on you if you live in the desert where there’s a lot of sand blowing around. One day you’re happily drilling a hole in your head to relieve a headache and the next thing you know you’re nipples-deep in dirt and yelling for Akbar to pack the camel. I can see that happening.
Maybe in some cases the ancient residents all died of diseases, or someone conquered them. But you’d think that at least one family would survive. I suppose if they and their descendants only swept their own house, they’d eventually be at the bottom of a huge hole because the rest of city would build up layers of dirt. And there would be a lot of inbreeding if no one could get out of the hole. Perhaps I will mount an archeological expedition to find homes at the bottom of holes where the residents have twelve fingers and no spleens. Who’s with me?
My best theory about the buried cities is that the ancients didn’t have sinks. Think of all the food you’ve eaten while leaning over your sink. If all of those crumbs landed on your floor instead of being washed into the sewer system, your house would get buried pretty quickly too. I’m guessing that the cities that got buried had a lot of residents who enjoyed doughnuts and potato chips. If the sewer system in Cleveland ever got blocked, that city would disappear in a few months too.
I like to think about these sorts of things until I convince myself that I have discovered the answer in my own brain.