I’ve always been curious how ancient areas end up underground.
Seems even after the empire fell, it would be a lot easier to live in a house that existed than build a new one. Plus what causes them to be covered over so extensively that they’re buried?
What happens over a relatively short time for whole cultures to disappear, almost intact, and end up a few hundred feet underground
If something bad happened like an earthquake, pandemic, or war people probably wouldn't be too eager to rebuild on the site right away. A modern house will crumble in short order if there is no one to take care of it.
Only the wealthy could afford to live in a home that would survive the test of time.
http://www.crystalinks.com/romebuildings.html