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This bird's-eye view of the archaeological digs in Iraq illustrates the vast extent of the Bronze Age city submerged under the Mosul reservoir. © Universities of Freiburg and Tübingen, KAOMajor Takeaways
- Across the globe, droughts are unveiling ancient artifacts and remains, such as dinosaur footprints in Texas, Buddhist statues in the Yangtze River, and Nero's ancient Roman bridge in the Tiber River.
- The draining of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs due to climate change-driven droughts has revealed a range of historically important items, from a 1,000-pound World War II bomb in the Po River to the lost city of Zakhikuan in Iraq.
- These remarkable findings highlight the surprising ways that contemporary environmental challenges can open up new opportunities for archaeological and historical exploration, providing insights into ancient cultures while serving as a poignant reminder of the ongoing effects of climate change.
Rising global temperatures, driven by climate change, have triggered devastating droughts from Arizona to Iraq. For example, Lake Mead, located on the border between Arizona and Nevada and the largest reservoir in the U.S. by volume, was only 28 percent full on September 5, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Lake Mead has made headlines not just because of its dwindling waters, but also due to the surprising discoveries, including five sets of human remains.
Experts speculate there may be more bodies still hidden beneath the water, most likely those of accidental drowning victims, but it's highly probable that some are linked to criminal activity. On a lighter note, authorities also uncovered an unauthorized boat ramp in the lake this past August.
Lake Mead isn't the only drying water body revealing unexpected and bizarre finds this summer. Explore other surprising discoveries around the world that were uncovered as the temperatures soared and water levels dropped.
1. Dinosaur Tracks in Texas
Dinosaur tracks have been a familiar sight at Texas' Dinosaur Valley State Park for years, but a severe drought in mid-August uncovered a remarkable set of large tracks along the Paluxy River. These tracks, usually submerged beneath water and mud, are estimated to be around 113 million years old. The prints are believed to have been left by the Acrocanthosaurus, a massive theropod that stood approximately 15 feet tall and weighed around 7 tons. The tracks are embedded in hardened limestone sediment.
Everything truly is bigger in Texas, as demonstrated by the recently uncovered dinosaur tracks revealed by drought conditions. When the Paluxy River in Dinosaur Valley State Park dried up, these ancient tracks emerged, providing a unique glimpse into the past.2. Buddhist Statues in Yangtze River
In August 2022, drought conditions in China caused water levels to drop across the southwestern region, with rainfall 45 percent lower than the previous month. This severe drought exposed an island previously submerged in the Yangtze River Basin, revealing three Buddhist statues believed to be around 600 years old. These statues, located on the highest part of the island's reef, are thought to have been constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. At the time of the discovery in mid-August, a total of 66 rivers in the area had dried up, though no other notable artifacts had come to light.
3. Nero's Ancient Roman Bridge
In July 2022, the receding waters of the Tiber River in Rome, Italy, revealed the remains of a centuries-old stone bridge. While not a new discovery, the structure resurfaced after drought conditions, with the bridge known as the Pons Neronianus, or Nero's Bridge. Some scholars believe that Emperor Nero, who ruled from 54 to 68 C.E., commissioned its construction. However, other historians suggest that the bridge predates Nero and was perhaps restored by him later in his reign.
The remnants of the ancient Bridge of Nero near Ponte Vittorio came to light once again as the Tiber River, severely affected by drought, nearly dried up in Rome, Italy.
Stefano Montesi/Corbis via Getty Images4. Unexploded World War II Bomb in Po River
In the summer of 2022, Italy's River Po experienced a dramatic drop in water levels, revealing a dangerous remnant from the past: a 1,000-pound (450 kg) bomb dropped during World War II. Thankfully, the bomb failed to explode. Fishermen discovered it along the riverbank near Borgo Virgilio. The discovery led to the temporary closure of both air and river traffic nearby until the situation was under control. In August, after evacuating around 3,000 residents, Italian military personnel safely detonated the bomb, which contained 530 pounds (240 kg) of explosives.
An unexploded World War II bomb was uncovered when the waters of the Po River in Italy receded in August 2022.
Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images5. Lost City of Zakhikuan
Archaeologists from Germany and Kurdistan have uncovered what they believe to be a long-lost city, dating back approximately 3,400 years. This discovery occurred in Iraq when drought conditions caused the water levels in the Mosul reservoir to fall dramatically. The newly exposed site, described as "an extensive city with several large buildings," is thought to be Zakhikuan, a key center in the Mittani Empire (circa 1550-1350 B.C.E.).
Teams of German and Kurdish archaeologists have uncovered, documented, and measured large structures and artifacts from the Mittani period, leading them to believe they've found the lost city of Zakhikuan.
© Universities of Freiburg and Tübingen, KAO6. Spanish Stonehenge
In Spain's province of Caceres, the Valdecanas reservoir saw its water levels drop significantly during one of the country's worst droughts in decades. This unusual event thrilled archaeologists as the retreating waters revealed the Dolmen of Guadalperal, often called the Spanish Stonehenge. First discovered by German archaeologist Hugo Obermaier in 1926, the site had been submerged after the area was flooded in 1963. Since then, the monument has only reappeared due to drought on four occasions. Scholars estimate that the circle of megalithic stones was constructed around 5000 B.C.E., though little is known about its creators or purpose.
The Dolmen of Guadalperal, also called Spanish Stonehenge, was visible above the waters of the Valdecanas reservoir in late July 2022, for only the fourth time ever.
Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesYou don't need a dried-up lake to find peculiar items; strange objects are often submerged in bodies of water. For instance, at the bottom of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, there’s a "graveyard" of yard tools, while a massive marble crucifix rests in Lake Michigan, visible from the surface when illuminated by lights.
