How far fetched is an ancient advanced civilization with nuclear power?

[ElDavicho]

Considering the progress we've made as a civilization over just the last 500 years and the fact that modern man has been around for several hundred thousand years at least, I'm wondering short of having not physical evidence how far fetched is the idea really?

And if there was one, would we evidence of it even exist at this point?
Lol, forgive the lack of proof reading in the above paragraph...

 

[emagidson]

Nuclear power depends on advanced abilities in metalworking. You can't make a reactor using clay pots.

We have never seen metal workings from before the Bronze Age. The metal buidings, reactor cores, all that stuff would still be around, SOMEHWERE, if it had existed. Along with the spent fuel. Unless of course it was all vaporized in huge thermonuclear explosion.

But given the half life of radioactive elements, we'd still see those elements in the world today.

And we don't . So I think it's pretty far fetched.

 

[Tripper]

In alternative archaeology circles, there are many theories concerning previously advanced civilisations such as Atlantis (which was mentioned by Plato), which may have been quite technologically advanced. Then there is the discovery of human fossilised footprints that are literally millions of years old. So who really knows, anything is possible in my mind.

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-10-9/60546.html
http://www.dinosaursandman.com/index.php?option=com_zoom&Itemid=15&page=view&catid=14&PageNo=1&key=1&hit=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis
http://www.atlantisquest.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Archaeological-Anomalies-Artifacts-Footprints-Technology/dp/0915554461

I haven't come across any theories concerning prehistoric nuclear power specifically though, but I hope the above links give you some food for thought anyway!!

When our civilisation collapses, after a few million years there won't be much left to show for it, so it makes me wonder what may have existed in the past.