DVD Lifespan and Timestamps

The previous post at http://www.macx.dk/Media/#sec4 covers longevity of the media well.

That won't matter if you don't have and can't get a device to read it. Technology changes so fast there's the possibility that you won't be able to buy a working reader device in another 10 years so if you don't have one stored with the media there's a likelyhood the media will be fine but but you won't be able to access it. Think 8", 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" floppy disks or BetaMax tape.

Interfaces change also. Most motherboards (I'm guessing all) manufactured today don't have a PATA (Parallel ATA) interface but a SATA (Serial ATA) interface. You can get converters today who knows how long that will last. When a new interface becomes more popular and manufacturers discontinue the previous one all the equipment dependent on that interface is also deprecated.

Also keep in mind that there are dangers that haven't yet been encountered in the computer age. The most recognizable one is either natural or man made EMP (electro magnetic pulse), the former occuring from coronal mass ejections from the sun (there was one in the 1800's that knocked out most telegraph lines) and the latter probably only a matter of time. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't take a nuclear detonation to create EMP. Scroll down to page 51 at the following link. Also note the date of that article - September 2001, i.e. 09/11/2001. Of course the magazine was in preproduction before that, but it's still spooky. I saw the original article in paper form and it's since been edited to remove some details.
Terrorists can build an EBomb for $400

The good news is the DVD media has physical pits and grooves that won't be wipe out by EMP but the reading device needs to be shielded by a Faraday cage to preserve its electronics even when its stored away. I've seen reports of using grounded metal trash cans for a Faraday cage but have never tried it. I have some HAM radio friends that use it though. At any rate it wouldn't hurt to store the media in there also as long as you have it in a temperature controlled environment.

Then you've got your normal disasters like eathquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanos, etc.

And there is one thing you can't do a thing about - neutrinos. There are billions passing through you body right now and every second of every day. They most often pass through the entire earth without interacting with anything. They very, very rarely interact with matter but that doesn't mean they never interact with matter.

So it's really a matter of both the media and the device used to read the media, how long you want your archives to be recoverable, and how far you are willing to go to protect them.

Stone tablets are probably the best bet Here's the next best thing
Millenniata and LG to Release M-Disc Archival DVD Burner