Wow, that was some fantastic information! And thanks for the idea about cesium.
I just now figured out my real question. It is this: can I have a place contaminated for a thousand years, or would smart people like you guys read it and be like "Bull chips!"? Should I find a different excuse for...
My question has a few sub-questions.
How long does an area stay contaminated, say after a bomb? A reactor leak?
Would different radioactive materials leave an area contaminated longer than others?
What would be the most scientifically plausible for an author to explain the 1000-year...