this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2024
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Don't get me wrong, I think these warnings are important, but the wording especially strikes me as something that would achieve the exact opposite of its intended purpose - could you imagine an archaeologist, random explorer, or even grave robber, would heed such a warning, or think "if someone wanted to hide something of great value or interest, this is exactly how they would try to keep people out"? It didn't work for the Egyptians..
It reads like a riddle, especially with those repeated words. Someone's definitely going to spend some time trying to solve this. Wonder what kind of conclusion they would draw.
"tribespeople, I have sat for quite some time by the lake of the glowing water, attempting to solve the riddle of the carvings! I have a weird tingling rash all over, but I think I have decoded it!"
Exactly.
I think a version of "DANGER! Nuclear waste, do not disturb!" in a couple dozen language like they have in user manuals for electronics and stuff, and maybe a selection of visual warning symbols to be safe, would work much better. That way, even if all current languages are no longer commonly known, there should be enough info to figure out at least one of them (a bit like how they did with the Rosetta stone).