[Rockhounds] Was There a Civilization on Earth Before Humans?

[Paul]

An Advanced Civilization Could Have Ruled Earth
Millions of Years Ago, Says the Silurian Hypothesis
By: Reuben Westmaas, Discover, August 01, 2019
https://www.discovery.com/exploration/Advanced-Civilization-Silurian-Hypothesis

Was There a Civilization on Earth Before Humans?
A look at the available evidence
By Adam Frank, The Atlantic, May 2018
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/are-we-earths-only-civilization/557180

The open access paper:

Schmidt, G.A. and Frank, A., 2019. The Silurian
hypothesis: would it be possible to detect an industrial
civilization in the geological record?. International Journal of 
Astrobiology, 18(2), pp.142-150.
Abstract and link: 
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-astrobiology/article/silurian-hypothesis-wouldit-be-possible-to-detect-an-industrial-civilization-in-the-geologicalrecord/77818514AA6907750B8F4339F7C70EC6
PDF file: 
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/77818514AA6907750B8F4339F7C70EC6/S1473550418000095a.pdf/div-class-title-the-silurian-hypothesis-would-it-be-possible-to-detect-an-industrial-civilization-in-the-geological-record-div.pdf
Prerpint PDF: 
https://info-quest.org/documents/PDF/The_SILURIAN_HYPOYHESIS.pdf

There are a few science fiction stories whose plots are based upon an 
intelligent race of
dinosaurs having been destroyed by the Chicxulub impact.

There are two very good books that discuss
what a technological civilization, ours, would
behind in the archaeological – geological record.

They are;

Weisman, A., 2008. The world without us. Macmillan.
0312427905, 9780312427900

and

Zalasiewicz, J. and Freedman, K., 2009. The Earth
after us: what legacy will humans leave in the rocks?.
Oxford University Press. 0199214980, 9780199214983

Dr. Zalasiewicz has written a papers about the
Anthropocene and the signature and traces that
would survive in the geologic record. Examples are:

Zalasiewicz, J., Waters, C.N. and Williams, M., 2014.
Human bioturbation, and the subterranean landscape
of the Anthropocene. Anthropocene, 6, pp. 3-9.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264241410_Human_bioturbation_and_the_subterranean_landscape_of_the_Anthropocene

and

Zalasiewicz, J., Williams, M., Waters, C.N., Barnosky,
A.D. and Haff, P., 2014. The technofossil record of
humans. The Anthropocene Review, 1(1), pp. 34-43.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264461538_The_technofossil_record_of_humans

Related papers can be found at:

Jan Zalasiewicz, University of Leicester, Department of Geology,
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jan_Zalasiewicz

Yours,

Paul H.