What will our future be?

What will paleontologists of the future find from us?

• I'm talking paleontologists millions of years in the future, (but if you have an intereting comment about how archeologists will understand in the more near future, thats cool too) with a degree of technological advancement that is similar to modern humans. I'm almost obsessed with the idea of how intelligent life in the future will understand us. I dont know why but this is really interesting to me. But what im talking about (that made me want to ask this) is that i read recently that one major thing that would stand out about our present time is the change in the distibution of pollen around the earth's surface. but what else will they see, that will show up long term? any books or websites about this? it seems like an unusual topic.

• Answer:

  Unless there us a complete breakdown of civilization, causing a sharp break between us and some future civilization that somehow flourishes after we're gone, intelligent life here should have a complete understanding of us. We're bound to leave behind far more records and artifacts of all kinds than any previous culture. I think the main difference between us and a future successor civilization will be that the latter, to survive and avoid our fate, hence exist in the first place, will have to put a higher purpose or goal-the environment, the species etc--above petty individual interests.