Ancient cultures did not have government regulation, so they build wherever it was convenient and left few records. It might seem an odd way to live today, but unearthing the past is often an issue for modern developers. They might find the piece of land they are digging up for foundations contains an ancient burial ground, or they could find an unregistered city location for a group of people that no one knew existed in the area. It can be an additional expense, and it can create a great deal of havoc.
It is understandable that not every ancient culture is registered with some government agency, but finding the remains of a civilization when ground is broken for a project can create issues. If the site is suddenly perceived to be an historical remnant, all development could be halted. While some areas can be dug up and the remnants removed, others could be declared an area that may never be developed. This can set the development back years.
It is important to preserve the past in many areas, but not all buried and forgotten ruins are quite the same. If a small village is badly preserved or gives no new evidence of civilization, it is not necessarily earmarked for preservation. It will take time to make the determination, and that is often what drives up the cost of a development. Men and machines sitting idle are costly, and it will be passed on to the consumer.
Historic relics are often found during the first phase of clearing a site, but they do not necessarily herald a lost civilization. Some of them are ancient battlegrounds, or they could be temporary camps where people lived centuries ago. Many modern developers have found it pays to do historical research before they choose a location, and it has often proven to be a profitable choice for those intent on building without long delays.
